Marlyn is a unique and distinctive female name with an interesting origin and history.
The name Marlyn has its roots in Welsh culture and language. It is derived from the Welsh word "marli" which means "seagull." The name was popularized by the famous Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, who used it as the title of one of his poems, "Do not go gentle into that good night," published in 1952.
Marlyn gained popularity as a given name for girls following the publication of Thomas' poem. However, it is still relatively rare compared to other popular names, which contributes to its uniqueness and charm.
There are no specific meanings or associations attached to the name Marlyn beyond its origin and history. It does not have any particular cultural significance or symbolism beyond being associated with Welsh literature and poetry.
In terms of popularity, Marlyn has never been a particularly common name. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it peaked in popularity in 1945 when it was given to 283 baby girls born that year. Since then, its usage has declined significantly, with only five babies named Marlyn in 2018.
Despite its lack of widespread popularity, Marlyn remains a beautiful and unique name with an interesting backstory rooted in Welsh culture and literature. Its rarity makes it a standout choice for parents looking for something distinctive and meaningful for their daughter.
The name Marlyn has a varied history of popularity in the United States, as indicated by these annual birth statistics from 1915 to 2023.
In the early years, from 1915 to 1928, the number of births with the name Marlyn was quite low, ranging from just 6 to a peak of 87 births in 1930. However, starting in 1931, there was a significant increase in popularity, with over 100 births each year until 1945.
The peak years for the name Marlyn were during World War II, with 156 births in 1933 and 184 births in 1935. After the war, the popularity of the name began to decline, but it remained fairly stable through the 1950s and early 1960s, with around 70 to 80 births per year.
In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, there was a further decrease in popularity, with fewer than 50 births per year. This trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s, although there were occasional years where the number of births increased slightly.
However, from the late 1990s onwards, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of the name Marlyn. In the early 2000s, the number of births with this name began to rise again, reaching a peak of 82 births in 2012.
Despite this recent increase, the overall total number of births with the name Marlyn from 1915 to 2023 is quite low, at just 6764. This suggests that while the name has had periods of popularity over the years, it has never been particularly common in the United States.
It's always interesting to see how the popularity of names ebbs and flows over time, and these statistics provide a snapshot of the history of the name Marlyn in the US.