Merlin
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Merlin
This name of the famous fifth-century sorcerer and mentor of King Arthur may or may not be a bit wizardy for a real-life modern child. Its most noted modern bearer: football star turned actor Merlin Olsen, whose father was named Merle.
Merlin for boys#2343 US
Merlin fell off the US Top 1000 half a century ago, though it ranks in the Nameberry Top 1000, which could be a harbinger of its return. About 50 baby boys were named Merlin in the US last year, and about ten girls. It is used in contemporary Germany.
Merlin for girls#7758 US
Merlin is an ancient wizardy name still occasionally (and increasingly) used today. Thirteen baby girls were named Merlin in the US last year, and about seventy boys.
Pronounced MER-lin.
As of October 2026, Merlin ranked #2343 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #288 in 1927, Nameberry popularity #893.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #3,283 | 34 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #3,284 | 35 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #2,967 | 40 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #2,407 | 54 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #2,346 | 57 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #2,513 | 53 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #2,492 | 52 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #2,092 | 70 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #2,701 | 49 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #2,284 | 62 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #2,083 | 72 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #2,343 | 59 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Merlin for boys
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Merlin on lists
Famous Merlins
- Merlin de Douai (born PhilippeBoy
Antoine Merlin), French politician and lawyer
- Merlin de Thionville (born AntoineBoy
Christophe Merlin), French revolutionary
- Merlin SantanaBoy
American actor
- Merlin OlsenBoy
American football player and actor
- Merlin HollandBoy
grandson of novelist Oscar Wilde
- Merlin MannBoy
American podcaster of 43 Folders
- Merlin Ferry (b. 1991)Boy
son of singer Bryan Ferry
- Merlin Esra Besson (b. 1992)Boy
son of musician Richard Z. Kruspe of Rammstein
- Merlin Sheldrake (b. 1992)Boy
son of biologist and author Rupert Sheldrake; brother of Cosmo
- Merlin van LawickBoy
grandson of primatologist Jane Goodall
Merlin in pop culture
- MerlinBoy
wizard of Arthurian legend
- Merlin LangstaffBoy
character from the TV series "The Worst Witch"
- MerlinBoy
female character in manga/anime The Seven Deadly Sins (Nanatsu no Taizai)
- MerlinBoy
a type of bird (Latin name: Falco columbarius)
- Merlin WizardBoy
character on Bee and Puppycat