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    The first name Mervyn

    A boy’s name from Welsh meaning “marrow”, “eminent”, “smooth”.

    Pronounced /ˈmɝ.vɪn/ 2 syllables Male

    Meaning and origin

    Welsh origin

    Mervyn means “marrow”, “eminent”, “smooth” in Welsh.

    Welsh Merfyn, probably from mer (“marrow”) (from Proto-Brythonic *mer) + myn (“eminent”) (compare Irish mín (“smooth, elegant, courteous”)).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Mervyn last appeared in the official list in 2017, given to 4 boys. It peaked in 2003, with 7 births (#1,962).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    47
    babies named Mervyn, 1996–2025
    #3,996
    rank in 2017
    2003
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Mervyn with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Mervyn at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2016, 5 boys born in the United States were named Mervyn, the 13,541st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1937, when 55 were.

    03060 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    1,586
    babies named Mervyn since 1880
    #13,541
    rank in 2016
    1937
    peak year

    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.

    Famous people named Mervyn

    13 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Mervyn LeRoy
      American film director and producer (1900–1987)
    • Mervyn Peake
      English author and illustrator (1911–1968)
    • Mervyn Rose
      Australian tennis player (1930–2017)
    • Mervyn Wood
      Australian rower (1917-2006)
    • Mervyn King
      British economist (born 1948)
    • Mervyn Crossman
      Field hockey player, 1935–2017
    • Mervyn Finlay
      Australian judge and rower (1925-2014)
    • Mervyn Day
      English footballer and manager (born 1955)
    • Mervyn M. Dymally
      American politician (1926–2012)
    • Mervyn Warren
      American songwriter, born 1964
    • R. M. Hare
      British moral philosopher (1919–2002)
    • Muff Winwood
      British musician, A&R man, record producer, born 1943

    More Welsh boys’ names

    All 78 names of Welsh origin

    Questions

    What does the name Mervyn mean?
    Mervyn means “marrow”, “eminent”, “smooth” in Welsh.
    What is the origin of the name Mervyn?
    Welsh Merfyn, probably from mer (“marrow”) (from Proto-Brythonic *mer) + myn (“eminent”) (compare Irish mín (“smooth, elegant, courteous”)).
    How popular is the name Mervyn?
    In 2017, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Mervyn, ranking 3,996th. Its peak was 2003, with 7 births.
    Is Mervyn a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 1,586 US babies named Mervyn since 1880 were boys.
    When was Mervyn most popular?
    1937 in the United States, when 55 babies were named Mervyn, its highest rank at 828th.
    How do you pronounce Mervyn?
    Mervyn is /ˈmɝ.vɪn/, 2 syllables.