Marilyn

Marilyn is a girl's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. A twentieth-century blend of the names Mary and Lynn. In 2024 it was given to 432 girls in the United States.

Marilyn at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˈmæɹ.ɪ.lɪn/

About the name Marilyn

Marilyn belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Marilyn first appears in Social Security records in 1899. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #13 in 1936, and in 2024 432 babies received the name — 373,424 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Marilyn in US records

First recorded (US)
1899
Best US rank
#13 in 1936
Peak year
1947
Babies named Marilyn in 2024
432
Total since 1880
373,424

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Marilyn mean?

The meaning of Marilyn is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Marilyn a boy or girl name?

Marilyn is a girl name. In 2024, 432 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Marilyn?

Marilyn comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Marilyn?

Marilyn first appears in US records in 1899. Its best-ever ranking was #13 in 1936, and 432 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Marilyn?

Marilyn is pronounced /ˈmæɹ.ɪ.lɪn/ (IPA).

Share this name

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Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.