Marilyn

Marilyn - A very unique female name

Marilyn appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #1022. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Marilyn and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Marilyn? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Marilyn. The baby girl name Marilyn was given to 308 baby girls in 2025, ranking #774 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 4,232 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Marilyn peaked in popularity 90 years ago in 1936 on position 13.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Marilyn, 1-5?

Marilyn is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Marilyn is currently topping the baby name charts in Wisconsin at position #440 - and is the least popular in Michigan at position #1,348.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Marilyn is where you live.

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Marilyn origin and meaning

English, compound of Mary + Lynn

A 20th-century compound of Mary + the -lyn/Lynn ending; Mary itself is of disputed Hebrew origin, often glossed 'beloved' or 'bitter'

Marilyn was created in the early 1900s and made iconic by Marilyn Monroe, peaking in 1947 at nearly 12,000 births a year. It has declined for decades, though Monroe's image keeps it glamorous in the imagination.

Origin uncertain

Marilyn is a 7 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Marilyn, pop culture references for the name Marilyn and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Marilyn

We've found the following names that sound similar to Marilyn, sorted by popularity.

Marlene / Maryellen / Marilynn / Marlena / Marlen / Marlyn / Marleen / Marylin / Marylyn / Mariaelena /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Marilyn

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Marilyn a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Marilyn?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

MAIR-uh-lin · /ˈmɛərəˌlɪn/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Marilynn — Doubled-n spelling
• Marilyne — Respelling

Nicknames: MariLyn

Famous bearers

• Marilyn Monroe — American actress and cultural icon, born Norma Jeane Mortenson and famous under the stage name Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) Historical

Style

ClassicVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Marilyn is chosen today mostly for Monroe glamour or to honour a grandmother — a deliberate vintage statement.

Worth knowing

• Monroe's association is total, including her tragic story
• Reads as a grandmother-generation name to many