Marilyn

Meaning: Uncertain; possibly bitter or rebellious
Origin: Hebrew — Elaboration of Mary with the ending -lyn

Girl's name · #761 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Marilyn belongs to an older America first — it reached #13 back in 1936 — yet it still appears in today's records at #761. About 374,000 girls have carried it since 1899.

Across the states

See where Marilyn is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 35 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Marilyn ranks in other countries and regions.

#496 in Ecuador (2025) · #1,082 in Italy (2024) · #1,315 in Canada (2025) · #1,719 in England & Wales (2025) · #2,203 in Sweden (2025) · #2,315 in Switzerland (2025) · #3,008 in Austria (2025) · #5,852 in France (2025) · #856 in Ireland (2023) · #1,204 in Belgium (2020) · #426 in N. Ireland (2015) · #488 in Puerto Rico (2002) and 3 more.

Famous Marilyns

Marilyn Monroe — American actress and model (1926–1962)
Marilyn vos Savant — American columnist, author and lecturer (born 1946)
Marilyn Waring — New Zealand politician and academic (born 1952)
Marilyn Burns — American actress (1949–2014)
Marilyn Maxwell — American actress, singer (1921–1972)

In stories & tradition

Marilyn Munster — Fictional character in The Munsters
Marilyn Chambers — Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away
Marilyn — Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (video game)

What Marilyns become

Among 580 notable people named Marilyn:

Entertainers appear 1.71× more often than among typical names — e.g. Marilyn Monroe, American actress and model (1926–1962).

Similar names: Arlene · Marian · Kayleigh · Marlene · Maribel · Kailyn

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

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