23,848births recorded
10Countries
2Variants
2004Peak · Switzerland
#286Germany (large cities) 2025
Merlin is a boy name family recorded 23,848 times in 10 countries since 1885. It ranks highest today in Germany's large cities (#286 in 2025). Its all-time peak was in Switzerland in 2004, at 40.9 births per 100,000.
Popularity by country
Births per 100,000 newborns, all forms of the name combined.
Which form wins where
Births per 100,000 newborns for each form, in the selected country.
All forms of Merlin
| Variants | Language | Total births | Country | Latest rank | Peak year | 10-year trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merlin | English | 15,968 | 🇺🇸 United States | #2332 | 1931 | ▲ 73 % |
| Merlin | English | 2,560 | 🇫🇷 France | #754 | 2009 | ▼ 8 % |
| Merlin | English | 407 | 🏴 England & Wales | #1796 | 2022 | ▲ 72 % |
| Merlin | English | 405 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | #367 | 2004 | ▲ 112 % |
| Merlin | English | 390 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | #660 | 2020 | ▲ 132 % |
| Merlin | English | 278 | 🇦🇹 Austria | #543 | 2023 | ▲ 82 % |
| Merlyn | English | 3,410 | 🇺🇸 United States | #10695 | 1930 | new |
| Merlyn | English | 5 | 🇨🇦 Ontario | – | 1936 | – |
Names with a similar trajectory
Their popularity curve in Switzerland correlates closely with Merlin's.
How we grouped these names
- Merlin ↔ Merlyn — spelling variant
Questions about Merlin
How popular is the name Merlin?
In 2025 it ranked #286 in Germany's large cities. Official registers record 23,848 births across 10 countries.
What is Merlin in other languages?
Merlyn (English).
When was Merlin most popular?
It peaked in Switzerland in 2004, at 40.9 births per 100,000.
Is Merlin a boy or a girl name?
In official birth registers, Merlin is a boy name.