Marilyn
A girls’ name of Hebrew origin, meaning beloved by god; a form of Mary.
How Marilyn has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #426 |
| 2016 | #490 |
| 2017 | #528 |
| 2018 | #607 |
| 2019 | #634 |
| 2020 | #633 |
| 2021 | #707 |
| 2022 | #696 |
| 2023 | #742 |
| 2024 | #666 |
| 2025 | #761 |
Marilyn by the numbers
In 2025, 17 babies in England and Wales were named Marilyn. In the US, 580 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 11,880 babies in 1947, so it is a 1940s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1935, about 1 in 100 American girls born that year was called Marilyn.
Other names that come from Mary
Like Marilyn, each of these traces back to Mary: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Mariaof the sea; a form of Mary522 in England and Wales (2025)
- Maliacalm, peaceful; hawaiian form of Mary1,416 in the US (2017)
- Mariamof the sea; beloved; form of Mary179 in England and Wales (2025)
- Marieof the sea; beloved; form of Mary453 in the US (2017)
- Maeof the sea; a form of May or Mary108 in England and Wales (2025)
- Pollystar; a diminutive of Polly from Mary242 in England and Wales (2025)
- Molliestar; diminutive of Mary or Molly192 in England and Wales (2025)
- Marionof the sea; a form of Mary216 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Marilyn. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Madilynof Magdala; tower; a modern respelling of Madelyn946 in the US (2017)
- Marilynnstar of the sea with lake; combination of mary and lynn68 in the US (2017)
- Marilyof the sea; variant of marily or mary15 in the US (2017)
- Marelynblend of mary and lynn or similar14 in the US (2017)
- Marylynbeloved; star of the sea; a blended form of mary and lynn
- Mailyn36 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Marilyn
Names that are said the same way as Marilyn, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean God
Like Marilyn, each of these has God in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Isabellapledged to God15,112 in the US (2017)
- Elizabethmy God is an oath8,924 in the US (2017)
- Angelmessenger of God6,157 in the US (2017)
- Auroradawn; Roman goddess of sunrise1,030 in England and Wales (2025)
- SamanthaGod has heard; feminine form of Samuel4,308 in the US (2017)
- Micahwho is like God3,924 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean love
Like Marilyn, each of these has love in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Milagracious, dear1,014 in England and Wales (2025)
- Marystar of the sea; beloved2,381 in the US (2017)
- Rosethe rose flower; symbol of love666 in England and Wales (2025)
- Mollybeloved; a diminutive of Mary405 in England and Wales (2025)
- Freyalady; goddess of love1,802 in England and Wales (2025)
- Amybeloved1,724 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Marilyn
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