Merlan
From the French language, meaning "whiting" (a type of fish).
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Merlan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Merlan today is around 101 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Merlan births was 1940 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Merlan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Merlan is about 101 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Merlans were born before 1935.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Merlan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1940
6 babies that year
Average age
101
years old
1940 SSA rank
#3,350
Tracked since 1940
Popularity
Merlan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Merlan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Merlan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Merlan
The name Merlan is believed to have originated in the medieval French language. It is derived from the Old French word "merle," which means "blackbird." This name likely emerged during the Middle Ages in France, sometime between the 5th and 15th centuries.
The name Merlan may have been used as a nickname or surname for someone with dark features or hair, resembling the blackbird's plumage. It could also have been given to someone who lived near a place where blackbirds were prevalent.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Merlan dates back to the 13th century. A French nobleman named Merlan de Montpellier was mentioned in historical records from the region of Montpellier in southern France during this time.
In the 14th century, a French monk and scholar named Merlan de Chartres gained recognition for his contributions to the study of theology and philosophy. He lived and worked at the Cathedral of Chartres, a renowned center of learning during the Middle Ages.
During the 16th century, a French explorer and navigator named Merlan Desmarais was known for his voyages to the New World. He was part of the expeditions that helped establish the French colonies in the Americas.
In the 17th century, a French painter named Merlan Lesueur gained recognition for his portraiture and religious paintings. He was born in Paris in 1616 and died in 1655, leaving behind a notable body of work.
Another notable figure with the name Merlan was a French military commander named Merlan de Broglie, who lived in the 18th century. He played a significant role in the French and Indian War, serving under the command of the Marquis de Montcalm.
While the name Merlan has its roots in medieval France, it has been used across various cultures and regions throughout history. However, its origins can be traced back to the French language and the symbolism of the blackbird.
People
Merlan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Merlan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Merlan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Merlan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Merlan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Merlan a common name?
We classify Merlan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Merlan most popular?
The single biggest year for Merlan was 1940, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Merlan is about 101 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Merlan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Merlan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Merlan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Merlan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Merlan in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Merlan can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Merlan?
You can see how many Americans are named Merlan on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.