Marlin
How to say it: MAR-lin · /ˈmɑrlɪn/
Variant of Merlin (from Welsh 'Myrddin') or a surname-derived given name; also associated with the marlin fish.
Marlin was the 786th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 104 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1930s, its births are down about 24% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #844 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #786 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 104 |
| Share of births | 1 in 11,632 |
| Peak decade | 1930s |
| Change over 10 years | −24% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #844 |
| In France, 2025 | #390 among boys’ names, 0 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Marlin peaked in the 1930s.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Mar
Honouring a Marlin in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Marlin is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, German, Spanish.
In France: #390 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Marlin
- Marlin Stutzman (born 1976)American politician
- Marlin Fitzwater (born 1942)White House Press Secretary
- Marlin Perkins (1905–1986)American zoologist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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