Marlin

“Variant of Merlin — Sea hill, from Celtic words for sea and stronghold” — Celtic via Old French origin

Boy's name · #1788 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Few names move less than Marlin — on the books since 1884, #1788 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 21,000 boys share it. In Pennsylvania and Ohio it runs about 4× its national rate.

Around the world: about 1 in 13,000 boys in Austria (2025) · about 1 in 18,000 boys in Switzerland (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 6 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Marlins

Marlin Stutzman — American politician
Marlin Perkins — American zoologist
Marlin Fitzwater — White House Press Secretary
Marlin Skiles — American composer (1906-1981)
Marlin Hurt — American entertainer (1905-1946)

In stories & tradition

Marlin — Finding Dory · Finding Nemo

What Marlins become

Among 63 notable people named Marlin:

Sports figures appear 2.13× more often than among typical names — e.g. Marlin Klein, German-born American football player (born 2002).

Similar names: Merlin · Carmen · Marlow · Blair · Mervin · Marvin

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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