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Merlin as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Merlin

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The baby name Merlin is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced UK: /ˈmɜːrlɪn/; US: /ˈmɝlɪn/ (MER-lin).

Merlin is Welsh in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: UK: /ˈmɜːrlɪn/; US: /ˈmɝlɪn/ (MER-lin)

What is the meaning of the name Merlin ?

The baby name Merlin is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced UK: /ˈmɜːrlɪn/; US: /ˈmɝlɪn/ (MER-lin).

Merlin is Welsh in Origin.

Merlin derives from Welsh Myrddin, a seer, Latinized as Merlinus by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century (he altered the form to avoid an unfortunate resemblance to French merde). From Latin it passed into Middle English as Merlin. The precise meaning is uncertain; links sometimes made to Carmarthen (Caerfyrddin) reflect folk etymology rather than true derivation. Though unrelated etymologically, the English word merlin for a small falcon adds falcon imagery to the name.

As a given name, Merlin is anchored in Arthurian legend, where Geoffrey fused the prophetic Myrddin Wyllt with elements of Ambrosius to create the archetypal wizard. Medieval romances spread the figure, but the name saw limited use until a 19th‑century revival and gained modest popularity in the early–mid 20th century in Britain and the US. Variants include Myrddin (Welsh), Merlinus (Latin), Merlyn, Merline/Merlina (feminine), and the short forms Merl and Merle.

Merlin has the following similar or variant Names

Celebrity babies named Merlin

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Merlin Ferry Lucy Helmore model ★★★★★ Bryan Ferry musician ★★★★★

Merlin – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Germany Boys 2025 #1 — 423
KR 0 #8 1 201
HN 0 #20 3 704
KR Boys 0 #26 2 897
EE 0 #31 7 1,051
HT Boys 0 #34 1 903
HN Girls 0 #35 4 884
AZ 0 #42 2 706
CM 0 #48 9 2,592
HN Boys 0 #52 1 749
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
MV Boys 0 #73 7 3,375
AZ Girls 0 #74 2 1,051
BG 0 #74 9 1,799
AO 0 #77 1 2,729
SI 0 #80 1 1,612
CN 0 #84 3 3,857
RS 0 #84 1 923
EE Girls 0 #99 40 1,888
ID Girls 0 #100 3 3,319
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
QA 0 #105 2 7,011
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
BN Girls 0 #113 2 5,459
OM 0 #115 7 6,215
KW 0 #120 2 5,216
CM Boys 0 #122 1,079 12,054
Switzerland Boys 2024 #124 14 1,769
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
PA 0 #137 2 3,797
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
RS Boys 0 #151 4 2,277
BW Boys 0 #154 1 4,685
BG Girls 0 #162 63 3,559
CR 0 #165 1 5,526
Belgium Boys 2020 #176 22 400
SI Girls 0 #177 1 2,769
MT Boys 0 #178 2 4,064
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
Sweden Boys 2019 #183 2 1,462
AE 0 #183 5 10,220
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
SI Boys 0 #210 2 3,402
AL Girls 0 #212 11 4,141
NA Girls 0 #214 11 7,146
LU Boys 0 #218 3 4,970
BG Boys 0 #219 2 3,850
AO Boys 0 #244 6 5,568
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
GR Girls 0 #246 4 6,293
JM Girls 0 #250 10 7,507
NA Boys 0 #250 4 6,830
JP Girls 0 #251 1 6,592
TW Boys 0 #253 4 7,111
EC Girls 0 #255 4 3,650
HR Boys 0 #259 1 3,997
MO Girls 0 #262 2 7,056
GR Boys 0 #272 2 6,912
NG 0 #272 1 5,926
AF Boys 0 #274 1 3,535
SG 0 #278 5 11,010
IL 0 #282 1 6,291
SA 0 #286 10 10,560
TW Girls 0 #286 4 8,139
HR Girls 0 #290 5 3,687
GT 0 #291 24 5,948
QA Girls 0 #293 24 15,378
AL Boys 0 #296 8 5,122
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
CN Boys 0 #298 22 9,639
Canada Boys 2023 #299 11 2,601
CZ Boys 0 #302 4 6,530
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
France Boys 2021 #312 77 2,865
PE 0 #325 5 6,350
DK Girls 0 #327 3 7,429
KZ Girls 0 #328 5 5,862
DK Boys 0 #330 3 7,401
PL Boys 0 #335 6 6,459
GH Girls 0 #336 2 6,973
OM Girls 0 #347 50 15,987
CZ Girls 0 #350 2 5,378
MY 0 #351 4 12,352
GH Boys 0 #353 9 8,138
CN Girls 0 #354 6 8,829
HK 0 #354 4 8,483
PL Girls 0 #358 7 5,096
SD Girls 0 #358 1 7,678
MU Boys 0 #362 8 8,477
GT Girls 0 #368 143 7,500
Finland Girls 0 #376 16 1,368
PH Girls 0 #376 15 13,098
PT Boys 0 #377 5 7,951
NL 0 #380 12 2,481
YE 0 #396 3 8,639
PH Boys 0 #403 6 11,440
BD Girls 0 #405 2 8,413
BO 0 #406 3 6,868
Austria Boys 0 #408 35 2,180
ZA 0 #422 26 14,421
Germany 0 #423 15 2,542
GT Boys 0 #439 36 7,625
CR Boys 0 #444 44 10,188
MX 0 #444 2 8,339
KW Girls 0 #458 58 19,177
SD Boys 0 #464 3 10,523
PA Girls 0 #467 15 9,861
PA Boys 0 #471 11 9,305
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
CR Girls 0 #473 60 11,342
AR Boys 0 #477 7 7,628
RU Girls 0 #479 20 11,913
AE Girls 0 #482 72 20,968
CM Girls 0 #501 40 11,671
CO 0 #502 9 7,768
RU Boys 0 #519 8 12,621
BH 0 #520 34 17,937
SG Girls 0 #532 55 18,916
UY Girls 0 #535 2 6,731
IR Girls 0 #539 7 8,334
PS Girls 0 #541 7 10,981
IR Boys 0 #542 11 10,162
HK Boys 0 #552 6 12,905
LY 0 #557 3 12,703
PS Boys 0 #560 2 10,655
BO Boys 0 #578 15 9,244
BO Girls 0 #584 28 9,488
IN Girls 0 #595 37 13,121
HK Girls 0 #598 18 16,104
BD Boys 0 #604 2 10,045
IL Girls 0 #604 14 11,648
Germany Boys 0 #623 361 5,697
IL Boys 0 #624 2 10,983
AR Girls 0 #625 6 8,289
CL Boys 0 #647 19 13,390
Finland Boys 2026 #668 15 3,552
SG Boys 0 #681 17 17,960
LB 0 #688 3 13,263
IQ Boys 0 #695 3 13,071
PE Boys 0 #725 155 14,506
QA Boys 0 #735 9 18,093
KW Boys 0 #753 17 18,755
BR Boys 0 #779 7 12,213
NG Girls 0 #818 9 15,093
Germany Girls 0 #819 20 4,949
CO Girls 0 #820 267 16,140
NL Girls 0 #820 136 5,933
United States Boys 2024 #821 72 7,044
OM Boys 0 #835 47 17,948
SA Girls 0 #835 101 25,931
CL Girls 0 #842 10 14,098
TN 0 #858 8 13,765
CO Boys 0 #871 50 15,656
EG Boys 0 #875 12 15,035
Spain Boys 0 #890 41 5,610
PE Girls 0 #890 54 14,861
MY Girls 0 #897 98 24,821
United States Girls 2024 #904 13 8,487
NL Boys 0 #916 36 5,873
NG Boys 0 #927 25 16,906
Spain Girls 0 #938 46 5,561
MX Boys 0 #941 42 16,355
IN Boys 0 #987 15 16,750
BR Girls 0 #988 5 12,708
ZA Girls 0 #996 146 25,928
ZA Boys 0 #1,006 173 25,619
EG Girls 0 #1,009 1 14,742
AE Boys 0 #1,065 28 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,093 19 25,439
MA 0 #1,111 18 20,986
MX Girls 0 #1,138 46 17,781
TR 0 #1,154 58 19,440
DZ 0 #1,161 16 20,130
IT Girls 0 #1,375 72 9,415
IT Boys 0 #1,387 85 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,544 71 28,008

Merlin is popular in 86 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Canada
Switzerland
United States
Wallonia, Belgium

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People also ask about Merlin

Merlin is predominantly a boy's name.
Merlin is a 2 syllable name, pronounced UK: /ˈmɜːrlɪn/; US: /ˈmɝlɪn/ (MER-lin).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Myrddin, Merlyn, Merlinus, Merlín and Merline.
Yes, very popular — Merlin ranked #1 in Germany in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 8 countries.
Merlin ranks highest in Germany (#1 in 2025).
Merlin's popularity is declining significantly. It moved from #301 in 2011 to #312 in 2021 in France.
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Merlin for their child, including Lucy Helmore and Bryan Ferry.