Marilyn
ME-ruh-luhn
Marilyn is an elaboration of Mary combined with the suffix -lyn (from Old English linn, “pool, lake”) or as a blend of Mary and Lynn. Mary derives from the Hebrew Miryam, meaning “beloved,” “sea of bitterness,” or “loved by God.”
The name was created in the early 20th century as an elaboration of the ubiquitous Mary, giving it a more modern, distinctive form.
It entered widespread use in the 1920s and 1930s as Hollywood glamour became the dominant cultural influence on American naming.
What the name Marilyn means
Marilyn peaked in the US at No. 13 in 1936 with 11,064 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 666 with 432 births, far from its Depression-era heights but showing mild revival signs.
Norma Jeane Mortenson chose the stage name Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), making the name inseparable from one of the most iconic figures in cinema history.
Her influence on the name’s 1930s peak is undeniable; she named herself after Marilyn Miller (1898-1936), a Broadway star.
Four syllables—MAIR-ih-lin—flow in a warm, mid-century American cadence. The name carries an inherent glamour from its associations while remaining accessible and friendly in everyday use.
Parents rediscovering Marilyn today often do so consciously, invoking the Monroe legacy, or as an alternative to the more common Mary that still retains the same root.
Related names include Mary (original root), Marylin (variant spelling), Marlyn, Lynn (suffix as standalone), and the broader Mary family that includes Maria, Marie, and Marion.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Marilyn
Marilyn - similar names
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