Marilyn is a feminine given name of English origin. It is composed of two elements: Marie and Lynne. The name Marie comes from the French form of the Latin name Maria, which means "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness." However, it is more commonly associated with its other meaning, "star of the sea," which refers to the Virgin Mary in Christianity. The element Lynne is of English origin and means "from Lincoln."
The name Marilyn first gained popularity in the United States during the early 20th century. It became even more popular after the rise to fame of actress Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, who was one of the most influential figures in pop culture in the mid-20th century.
In literature, the name Marilyn appears in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," published in 1925, although it is not a main character's name. In popular music, there have been several songs and albums named after the name Marilyn, including those by artists such as Hole, Marilyn Manson, and Marilyn.
Despite its popularity peak during the mid-20th century, the name Marilyn has continued to be used in recent decades, although it is not currently among the top 100 most popular girl names in the United States.
The name Marilyn has been a popular choice for newborn girls in the United States over the past century, with a significant peak in popularity during the mid-20th century.
From 1899 to 1956, there was a steady increase in the number of girls named Marilyn each year. In 1953 and 1954, the name reached its peak popularity with 10,741 and 10,814 births respectively.
However, starting from 1957, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily. By 1964, the number of girls named Marilyn had dropped to 2,792, a significant decrease compared to its peak popularity.
The trend continued to decline over subsequent decades, with fewer than 1,000 girls being named Marilyn each year from the late 1980s onwards. In recent years, the name has become even less popular, with only 377 births recorded in 2023.
Overall, despite its significant popularity in the mid-20th century, the name Marilyn has seen a steady decline in usage as a baby girl's name in the United States over the past century.