The first name Marvin
A boy’s name from Welsh meaning “mervyn”, “marrow”, “eminent”.
Pronounced /ˈmɑɹ.vɪn/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Welsh origin
Marvin means “mervyn”, “marrow”, “eminent” in Welsh.
From Welsh Merfyn (“Mervyn”), probably from mêr (“marrow”) + myn (“eminent”).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 21 boys were named Marvin, making it the 1,307th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2010, with 40 births (#744).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Marvin with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Marvin at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 385 boys born in the United States were named Marvin, the 699th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1928, when 4,452 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Marvin
89 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Marvin GayeAmerican R&B and soul singer (1939–1984)
- Marvin MinskyAmerican cognitive scientist (1927-2016)
- Marvin PlattenhardtGerman association football player (born 1992)
- Marvin HamlischAmerican composer and conductor (1944-2012)
- Marvin HarrisAmerican anthropologist (1927-2001)
- Marvin MartinFrench footballer (born 1988)
- Marvelous Marvin HaglerAmerican boxer (1954–2021)
- Marvin CompperGerman footballer, born 1985
- Marvin HeemeyerAmerican news figure (1951–2004)
- Marvin OgunjimiBelgian association football player, born 1987
- Marvin WilliamsAmerican basketball player (born 1986)
- Marvin FriedrichGerman footballer, born 1995
More Welsh boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Marvin mean?
- Marvin means “mervyn”, “marrow”, “eminent” in Welsh.
- What is the origin of the name Marvin?
- From Welsh Merfyn (“Mervyn”), probably from mêr (“marrow”) + myn (“eminent”).
- How popular is the name Marvin?
- In 2025, 21 boys born in England and Wales were named Marvin, ranking 1,307th. Its peak was 2010, with 40 births.
- What are nicknames for Marvin?
- Common nicknames for Marvin include Marv, Marvie.
- Is Marvin a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 255,807 US babies named Marvin since 1880 were boys.
- When was Marvin most popular?
- 1928 in the United States, when 4,452 babies were named Marvin, its highest rank at 46th.
- How do you pronounce Marvin?
- Marvin is /ˈmɑɹ.vɪn/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Marvin?
- Mervin, Mervine and Mirfin.
- Is Marvin also a surname?
- Yes. Marvin is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.