Find out how popular the first name Marlyn has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Marlyn by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Marlyn is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 92% of people named Marlyn being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 21 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Marlyn.

The history of the first name Marlyn

The name Marlyn is believed to have its origins in the English language, derived from the combination of two older words: "mere," meaning a small body of water or a lake, and "lyn," which is an Old English word meaning a pool or a waterfall. This suggests that the name Marlyn may have initially referred to someone living near a body of water.

In terms of historical references, the name Marlyn does not appear to have been widely used in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, there are some notable individuals throughout history who have borne this name.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Marlyn is Marlyn Edward Krueger, an American baseball player who was born in 1913 and played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1935 to 1946. Another early example is Marlyn Aho, a Finnish-American author and poet who lived from 1916 to 1980.

In the 20th century, Marlyn Monrovia Smith, an American actress and model, became famous for her roles in various television shows and films. She was born in 1955 and is still active in the entertainment industry.

Marlyn Wescoff Devine, an American politician, was born in 1927 and served as the First Lady of Ohio from 1963 to 1967, during her husband's tenure as the governor of the state.

In the world of sports, Marlyn Manners was a Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1966 to 1978. He was born in 1946 and is remembered for his contributions to the Vancouver Canucks and Atlanta Flames.

It is worth noting that while the name Marlyn has been used throughout history, it has never been among the most popular names in various cultures or regions. However, it has maintained a unique and distinctive character, often associated with individuals who have made notable contributions in their respective fields.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Marlyn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Marlyn, please contact us.

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