Marlin

Marlin - A very unique male name

Marlin appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #502. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Marlin and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Marlin? 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 Marlin. The baby boy name Marlin was given to 46 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1774 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 31,876 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Marlin peaked in popularity 91 years ago in 1935 on position 270.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Marlin, 1-5?

Marlin is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Marlin is currently topping the baby name charts in Wisconsin at position #665 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,576.

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 Marlin is where you live.

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Marlin origin and meaning

English — probably a variant of Merlin or a surname transfer

Uncertain — Marlin is usually treated as a variant of Merlin (Welsh Myrddin, of disputed meaning) or as a transferred surname; the fish of the same spelling is a later association, shortened from 'marlinspike'

Marlin has been in American data continuously since 1910, peaking modestly in 1935. It hovers at low levels today, slightly up on its 2020 ranking. The name is easily confused with both the wizard Merlin and the game fish, and both associations shape how it lands.

Origin uncertain

Marlin is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Marlin

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

Marlon / Merlin / Merlyn / Marlyn / Marland / Marilyn / Maryland / Marlan / Marlen / Marlene /

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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 Marlin

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 Marlin 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 male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Marlin?

2 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

MAR-lin · /ˈmɑrlɪn/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Marlon — A similar but separate name, boosted by Marlon Brando.
• Merlin — The Arthurian wizard's name, of which Marlin may be a variant; a separate established name.

Famous bearers

• Marlin Briscoe — American football player, the first Black starting quarterback in the modern NFL era (1945–2022) Contemporary
• Marlin — Nemo's father, the clownfish hero of Pixar's Finding Nemo (Fictional, 2003) Fictional

Style

Vintage revival

Why parents choose it

Marlin has an outdoorsy, mid-century solidity and a gentle Finding Nemo warmth for younger parents. It is familiar but well off the beaten track.

Worth knowing

• Expect Merlin and Marlon mix-ups, and fish jokes — the marlin is a famous game fish.