Given name
Marilyn
“a man of the lake”
In German use, Marilyn is a variant of Lynn. One English interpretation is “a man of the lake.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Marilyn is a variant of Lynn. One English interpretation is “a man of the lake.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
Marilyn is used as a form of Mary.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1899. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Marilyn through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 374,857
- 1,066 boys · 373,791 girls
- Most popular year
- 1947
- 11,905 babies
- 2025
- 356
- #761 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −24%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 356 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 761 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 24.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 11,881 in 1947. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (50). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 248,652 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Marilyn’s family of names
In English usage, Marilyn has a later derivative in MERILIN. Marilyn is a form of Mary. In German usage, Marilyn has a related form in Lynn.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Marilyn has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 21
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Marilyn
- Marilyn MonroeAmerican actress and model (1926–1962)
- Marilyn MansonAmerican musician (born 1969)
- Marilyn WaringNew Zealand politician and academicborn 1952
- Marilyn HorneAmerican mezzo-soprano opera singer (born 1934)
- Marilyn MaxwellAmerican actress and singer (1921–1972)
- Marilyn FrenchNovelist, critic (1929-2009)
- Marilyn BurnsAmerican actress (1949–2014)
- Marilyn FergusonAmerican writer (1938-2008)
- Marilyn QuayleSecond Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993born 1949
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Marilyn, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Janis is used as a given name and a surname. Janis is connected with Janice and John.
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Beth
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Chirley
“from the bright clearing”
>99% girls