The first name Merlin
A boy’s name meaning “sea-hill”, “sea”, “stronghold”.
Pronounced /ˈmɝlɪn/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Merlin means “sea-hill”, “sea”, “stronghold”.
From Middle English Merlyn, from Medieval Latin Merlinus and Old French Merlin, from Proto-Brythonic *Mor-ðin (literally “sea-hill”), from Proto-Celtic *mori (“sea”) + *dūnom (“stronghold, rampart”).
More names that mean sea.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 14 boys were named Merlin, making it the 1,798th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2017, with 27 births (#1,068).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Merlin with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Merlin at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 59 boys born in the United States were named Merlin, the 2,343rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1927, when 389 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
Other spellings and forms
- Marlin
- Nimuë
Questions
- What does the name Merlin mean?
- Merlin means “sea-hill”, “sea”, “stronghold”.
- How popular is the name Merlin?
- In 2025, 14 boys born in England and Wales were named Merlin, ranking 1,798th. Its peak was 2017, with 27 births.
- Is Merlin a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 15,968 US babies named Merlin since 1880, 6% were girls and 94% boys.
- When was Merlin most popular?
- 1927 in the United States, when 389 babies were named Merlin, its highest rank at 288th.
- How do you pronounce Merlin?
- Merlin is /ˈmɝlɪn/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Merlin?
- Marlin and Nimuë.
- Is Merlin also a surname?
- Yes. Merlin is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.