Merlin
3 countries#2332 in United States, 2025Popularity across 3 countries
Each line is scaled to its own peak, so you can compare when Merlin was in fashion in each country, whatever the population size.
Country by country
🇺🇸 United States
15,968 births recorded 1885–2025 · currently #2332 · peaked in 1927 with 405 births
Most common in: Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Louisiana, Ohio
Source: Social Security Administration, official birth-registration data
🇫🇷 France
2,376 births recorded 1978–2022 · currently #577 · peaked in 2010 with 142 births
Most common in: Paris, Loire-Atlantique, Rhône, Hauts-de-Seine, Gironde
Source: INSEE, official birth-registration data
🏴🏴 England & Wales
341 births recorded 1996–2021 · currently #1184 · peaked in 2017 with 27 births
Source: Office for National Statistics, official birth-registration data
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
341 births recorded 1996–2021 · peaked in 2017 with 27 births (England & Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland combined)
Source: ONS, National Records of Scotland & NISRA (combined), official birth-registration data
United States rank history
Merlin’s rank among boys’ names, most recent 20 years on record.
| Year | Rank | vs. prior yr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | #2477 | — |
| 2007 | #2765 | ↓288 |
| 2008 | #2946 | ↓181 |
| 2009 | #2946 | — |
| 2010 | #4099 | ↓1153 |
| 2011 | #3434 | ↑665 |
| 2012 | #2954 | ↑480 |
| 2013 | #2998 | ↓44 |
| 2014 | #3234 | ↓236 |
| 2015 | #3231 | ↑3 |
| 2016 | #2935 | ↑296 |
| 2017 | #2388 | ↑547 |
| 2018 | #2325 | ↑63 |
| 2019 | #2491 | ↓166 |
| 2020 | #2467 | ↑24 |
| 2021 | #2079 | ↑388 |
| 2022 | #2675 | ↓596 |
| 2023 | #2277 | ↑398 |
| 2024 | #2057 | ↑220 |
| 2025 | #2332 | ↓275 |
Frequently asked questions about Merlin
Is Merlin a popular name?
Yes — Merlin currently ranks #2332 among boys’ names in United States as of 2025, based on official birth records.
Is Merlin more common for boys or girls?
Merlin is recorded predominantly as a boys’ name in official United States birth data.
When was Merlin most popular?
Merlin peaked in 1927 in United States, with 405 recorded births that year.
Is Merlin rising or falling in popularity?
In United States, Merlin’s popularity is falling — its rank has slipped from #836 in 1885 to #2332 in 2025.
How many babies have been named Merlin?
At least 18,685 babies have been recorded with the name Merlin across official birth statistics in 3 countries.
Is Merlin popular in more than one country?
Yes — Merlin appears in official birth records in 3 countries: United States, France, England & Wales.
What names are similar in popularity to Merlin?
Based on real 2025 ranking data in United States, names ranked closest to Merlin include Kobi, Layth, Oak, Osmar.
Similar names right now
Ranked directly next to Merlin in United States, 2025 — a real popularity match, not a subjective list.