Marilyn is a feminine given name of English origin. It is derived from the combination of two elements: "Marie" and " Lynne". "Marie" is a variant of the French name Marie, which is ultimately derived from the Latin name Maria, meaning "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness." "Lynne" is an English surname that is believed to have originated as a habitational name from places called Lynn in Norfolk and North Lincolnshire.
The name Marilyn has been popular throughout the 20th century, particularly in the United States. It was frequently used during the mid-20th century, reaching its peak popularity in the late 1940s to early 1950s. Some notable individuals with this name include:
* Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), an American actress, model, and singer who became a major sex symbol of the 1950s.
* Marilyn French (1940-2018), an American feminist author known for her criticism of pornography.
* Marilyn vos Savant (born 1946), an American magazine columnist and holder of the highest recorded IQ score.
The name Marilyn has also been used as a surname in some cases. It is possible that it may have originated from a patronymic form of the given name, meaning "son of Marilyn."
In literature and pop culture, Marilyn has appeared as characters' names or titles, such as in Arthur Miller's play "After the Fall" (1964), which explores his relationship with Marilyn Monroe. The name is also popular among pet owners for female dogs due to its classic yet feminine sound.
Overall, Marilyn is a timeless and elegant feminine name with English origins that has been widely used throughout the 20th century. Its meaning, derived from "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness," may reflect a woman who has experienced adversity but remains resilient.
The name Marilyn has been given to a total of 1,066 babies born in the United States between the years 1922 and 1997. The most popular year for the name was 1932, with 38 births. However, the number of babies named Marilyn began to decline after the 1940s, with fewer than 20 births per year from 1945 onwards.
Interestingly, there were two peaks in the popularity of the name Marilyn - one in the early 1930s and another in the late 1950s. During these periods, the name was given to between 20 and 38 babies each year. However, since then, the name has become much less common, with fewer than 10 births per year from 1964 onwards.
Overall, while Marilyn was once a popular name in the United States, it has since fallen out of favor. Despite this, there are still over 1,000 people named Marilyn living in the country today, each with their own unique story and identity.