Marilyn Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance

Meaning

20th-century blend of Mary and Lynn

Origin

English (20th-century coinage)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

MAIR-uh-linListen

Marilyn came together in the 20th century as a blend of Mary and Lynn, giving it a familiar-yet-fresh sound rather than roots in an older single name. You may have heard it said to mean something like "wished-for child" or "star of the sea," but those meanings actually trace back to Mary, not to this combined name — as a coinage, Marilyn doesn't carry an inherited meaning of its own. It's pronounced MAIR-uh-lin.

Meaning & Origin of Marilyn

Meaning: 20th-century blend of mary and lynn.

Origin: English (20th-century coinage).

A common claim: Popularly said to mean 'wished-for child' or 'star of the sea' (inherited from Mary). Actually: As a 20th-century blend of Mary and Lynn, Marilyn doesn't carry a meaning inherited from Mary — those meanings for Mary itself aren't firmly established either, and in any case belong to Mary, not to this name.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Marilyn

Popularity of Marilyn

Marilyn hit its high point in 1936 at #13, with 11,064 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled to #666, with 432 babies named Marilyn.

Names Like Marilyn Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.

• Annie
• Hallie
• Lilly
• Maggie
• Maxine
• Molly

FAQ

What does the name Marilyn mean?

20th-century blend of mary and lynn. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Marilyn?

Marilyn is pronounced MAIR-uh-lin (IPA: /ˈmɛrəlɪn/).

Is Marilyn a popular name right now?

Marilyn peaked at #13 in 1936 and is ranked #666 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1899–2024.)

Make Marilyn Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Marilyn, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.