Marilyn
How to say it: MAR-uh-lin · /ˈmærəlɪn/
Blend of Mary and Lynn; from Hebrew Miriam plus a diminutive suffix, meaning 'beloved' or 'of the sea'.
Marilyn was the 688th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 356 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1930s, its births are down about 51% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #760 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #688 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 356 |
| Share of births | 1 in 8,350 |
| Peak decade | 1930s |
| Change over 10 years | −51% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #760 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Fashionable in the 1930s at its height, Marilyn has since become much rarer and sits far below that peak. Further decline seems in store.
What goes with it
Rippling with soft liquid sounds, Marilyn feels warm and expressive. Marlene blends in the same melodic vein.
Nicknames
- Mary
- Lynn
- Mari
Other spellings
Honouring a Marilyn in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Marilyn is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Marilyn
- Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)American actress and model
- Marilyn Waring (born 1952)New Zealand politician and academic
- Marilyn Horne (born 1934)American mezzo-soprano opera singer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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