Home / Name Directory / Merlin
How Many People Are Named Merlin?
Estimated people named Merlin living in the U.S. today
6,561
Gender distribution
91% male · 9% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 15,891
- Peak year: 1927 (405 births)
- Estimated living today: 6,561
Merlin by age group — who carries the name today?
Merlin popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Merlin
Merlin has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 15,891 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 6,561 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 52,096 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Merlins 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 Merlin in the US?
An estimated 6,561 people named Merlin are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Merlin very rare — about 1 in 52,096 Americans.
Is Merlin a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Merlin is 91% male and 9% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Merlin most popular?
Merlin peaked in 1927, when 405 babies were given the name. Its current trend is rising compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Merlin?
Merlin ranks #3,086 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 55 out of 100 (higher means rarer).