At a Glance: Name: Marlin – Meaning: variant of Merlin, linked to a Welsh place name sometimes glossed 'sea fortress' – Origin: Welsh (variant of Merlin) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: MAR-lin
Marlin is a Welsh (variant of Merlin) boy's name meaning “variant of Merlin, linked to a Welsh place name sometimes glossed 'sea fortress'”. It appears in 2 of our baby name lists.
Meaning & Origin of Marlin
Meaning: Variant of Merlin, linked to a Welsh place name sometimes glossed 'sea fortress'.
Origin: Welsh (variant of Merlin).
A common claim: Popularly linked to the marlin fish, the large billfish of the deep ocean. Actually: As a personal name, Marlin isn't actually derived from the fish — it's a variant of Merlin. The fish is a separate word, named for its resemblance to a rope tool called a marlinspike.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Marlin
Phonetic: MAR-lin IPA: /ˈmɑːrlɪn/
Popularity of Marlin
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1884–2024.
Lists That Include Marlin
Similar Names
Coral · Pearl · Kestrel · Iris · Caspian · Ford
