Merlan is a unique and distinct given name of French origin, derived from the Old French word 'merle', meaning 'blackbird'. It's composed of three syllables: Mer-lan, with the stress falling on the second syllable. This name has been used primarily in France but can also be found in other French-speaking regions and communities worldwide.
In English, the comment would be: "The name Merlan was quite popular in 1940 with six births recorded that year."