Merlin: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “sea fortress”
- Origin
- Welsh
- Say it
- MUR-lin · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Boys (94% of all uses)
Merlin is the French form of the Welsh name Myrddin, the name of the wizard of Arthurian legend. The original Welsh etymology is uncertain, though association with Carmarthen and a meaning like 'sea fortress' is often cited. The origin of this name is not settled among etymologists.
How popular is Merlin?
Babies named Merlin in 202485
2024 rank#2,075 boys
Peak year1931
Total US babies since 188015,891
Merlin is rising: use over the last five years is 1.8× what it was a decade earlier.
Names like Merlin
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Merlin questions
What does the name Merlin mean?
Merlin means "sea fortress". It comes from Welsh. Merlin is the French form of the Welsh name Myrddin, the name of the wizard of Arthurian legend. The original Welsh etymology is uncertain, though association with Carmarthen and a meaning like 'sea fortress' is often cited.
Is Merlin a boy or girl name?
Merlin is mainly a boy's name in US records (94% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Merlin?
85 US babies were named Merlin in 2024. Its peak year was 1931.
How do you pronounce Merlin?
Merlin is usually pronounced MUR-lin.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.