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The short answer
Marilyn is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Combination of Mary and the common name suffix lyn. It was very rare before the start of the 20th century." It ranked #761 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, combination of Mary and the common name suffix lyn. It was very rare before the start of the 20th century. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Marilyn ranked #761 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #761 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Marilyn in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Marilyn mean?
Behind the Name does not give Marilyn a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: combination of Mary and the common name suffix lyn.
Is Marilyn a popular name?
Marilyn ranked #761 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Marilyn a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Marilyn appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Marilyn — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
