Merilyn is a unique and charming female given name of uncertain origin, often believed to be a blend of Mary and Lyn, but also sometimes attributed to other influences such as Marilyn Monroe. It gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly after the rise of the iconic actress whose name it may have been inspired by. The name Merilyn is often associated with a sweet, vintage charm, reflecting its historical context.
Merilyn was a popular name for newborn girls from the early 1920s to the mid-1940s, with the highest number of births occurring in 1932 and 1944, at 68 and 72 respectively. However, its popularity declined significantly after World War II, with fewer than 20 births per year from 1950 onwards. The name saw a brief resurgence in the late 1970s to early 1980s but has since become quite rare, with only a handful of girls named Merilyn born each year since the mid-1980s. In total, there have been 2311 births recorded for the name Merilyn from 1915 to 2022.