Given name & surname
Merlan
Merlan is a variant of Merlin. One Welsh interpretation is “of the sea fortress; in Arthurian legend, the wizard and mentor of King Arthur.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Merlan is a variant of Merlin. One Welsh interpretation is “of the sea fortress; in Arthurian legend, the wizard and mentor of King Arthur.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Merlan is a variant of Merlin. Merlin has been associated with Welsh and Celtic naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1940. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Merlan is a variant of Merlin. The history of Merlin gives this family its wider story. Merlin’s literary history includes the stories of King Arthur and his knights.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Merlan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6
- 6 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1940
- 6 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 6 in 1940. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 395 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Merlan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Merlen
Merlen is a variant of Merlin. One Welsh interpretation is “of the sea fortress; in Arthurian legend, the wizard and mentor of King Arthur.”
>99% boys
Marlin
“resembling a little hawk”
86% boys · 14% girls
Mervyn
“a friend of the sea”
>99% boys
Merwin
“a friend of the sea”
>99% boys
Meril
“of the shining sea”
87% boys · 13% girls
Dahl
“from the valley; resembling the flower”
>99% boys
Fairley
“from the far meadow”
>99% boys
Glade
“from the meadow in the C woods” · “from the clearing in the woods”
>99% boys