Merlin
A boys’ name of Welsh origin, meaning sea fortress or bright sea.
Merlin by the numbers
In 2025, 14 babies in England and Wales were named Merlin. In the US, 68 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 389 babies in 1927, so it is a 1920s name that has since fallen a long way.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Merlin. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Marlinlake bird or fish; a form of Merlin95 in the US (2017)
- Mervinfamous friend; a form of Marvin46 in the US (2017)
- Merlynsea fortress; a form of Merlin15 in the US (2017)
- Martinof mars; warlike1,276 in the US (2017)
- Marvinfamous friend483 in the US (2017)
- Melvinfriend of mills or council friend321 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean light
Like Merlin, each of these has light in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Lucasbringer of light; from Lucania12,963 in the US (2017)
- Lukefrom Lucania; light9,168 in the US (2017)
- Robertbright fame; renowned warrior5,507 in the US (2017)
- Lucabringer of light3,266 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elliottbright fame; a form of Elijah2,996 in the US (2017)
- Elliotbright fame; a form of Elijah544 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean the sea
Like Merlin, each of these has the sea in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
Names about as common as Merlin
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