Mervyn, derived from the Welsh 'Mervyn,' is a classic yet distinctive name of Welsh origin. Pronounced as /ˈmɜːrvən/, it has been popular among English-speaking countries for centuries but remains somewhat uncommon today. The name Mervyn was first introduced into Britain by the Normans and has since become associated with various notable figures, such as the 18th-century British novelist, Tobias Smollett, who chose to use this name as his middle name.
The name Mervyn experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the century, with peaks and troughs mirroring broader societal trends. The height of its prevalence was between 1920 and 1937, during which time it was consistently among the top choices for parents, reaching a zenith of 55 births in 1937. However, after World War II, the name's popularity waned notably, dropping to single digits by the late 1940s and remaining relatively uncommon throughout most of the latter half of the century. The total number of Mervyn births over this period was 1580.