Merlin first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Merlin

A legendary name referring to the famous wizard in Arthurian legends.

Popularity of Merlin by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Merlin is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 81% of people named Merlin being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 61 male babies and 13 female babies born with the name Merlin.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 61 13
2022 48 11
2021 69 12
2020 52 17
2019 53 10
2018 57 12
2017 54 14
2016 40 11
2015 35 12
2014 34 12
2013 37 8
2012 39 15
2011 31 12
2010 23 15
2009 40 17
2008 39 26
2007 43 25
2006 49 22
2005 37 18
2004 45 12
2003 44 30
2002 43 15
2001 54 14
2000 47 12
1999 49 5
1998 45 10
1997 29 7
1996 39 13
1995 40 18
1994 28 18
1993 41 6
1992 33 19
1991 42 11
1990 44 10
1989 27 8
1988 49 0
1987 39 6
1986 34 0
1985 44 0
1984 39 0
1983 40 7
1982 45 5
1981 42 0
1980 48 6
1979 45 0
1978 48 0
1977 48 0
1976 53 0
1975 48 0
1974 57 0

The history of the first name Merlin

The name Merlin is believed to have originated from the Welsh language and culture, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Welsh name "Myrddin," which itself may have come from the Brittonic word "mori-dunon," meaning "sea fortress."

Merlin is most famously associated with the legendary wizard of the same name who appears in the Arthurian legends, particularly in Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Historia Regum Britanniae" (History of the Kings of Britain), written in the 12th century. This work popularized the character of Merlin as a powerful sorcerer and advisor to King Arthur.

One of the earliest recorded individuals named Merlin was a 6th-century poet and prophet from the region of present-day Scotland, known as Myrddin Wyllt (Merlin the Wild). His life and prophecies were recorded in various medieval Welsh texts, such as the "Black Book of Carmarthen" and the "Book of Taliesin."

Another notable figure was Merlin Silvester, a 12th-century writer and interpreter who translated various works from Arabic into Latin, including texts on astrology and alchemy. He was active during the reign of King Henry II of England.

In the 15th century, Merlin Coccaie, an Italian poet and scholar, gained recognition for his satirical work "Opus Macaronicum," written in a mixture of Latin and Italian dialects.

During the Tudor period in England, Merlin was a relatively popular name, with several individuals bearing it, such as Merlin Tyndale, a 16th-century Protestant reformer and translator of the Bible into English.

In more recent times, Merlin Olsen (1940-2010) was a famous American football player and actor, best known for his role in the TV series "Little House on the Prairie."

Throughout history, the name Merlin has been associated with wisdom, magic, and the legendary figure from Arthurian literature, making it a captivating choice for many parents seeking a name with a rich cultural heritage.

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 Merlin was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Merlin first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/merlin-meaning-and-history/.

"Merlin first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/merlin-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Merlin first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/merlin-meaning-and-history/.

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