Home / Name Directory / Marilyn
How Many People Are Named Marilyn?
Estimated people named Marilyn living in the U.S. today
181,546
Gender distribution
0% male · 100% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 374,490
- Peak year: 1947 (11,905 births)
- Estimated living today: 181,546
Marilyn by age group — who carries the name today?
Marilyn popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Marilyn
Marilyn has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 374,490 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 181,546 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 1,883 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Marilyns you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Marilyn in the US?
An estimated 181,546 people named Marilyn are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Marilyn uncommon — about 1 in 1,883 Americans.
Is Marilyn a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Marilyn is 0% male and 100% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Marilyn most popular?
Marilyn peaked in 1947, when 11,905 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Marilyn?
Marilyn ranks #303 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 38 out of 100 (higher means rarer).