Marlin
Boy name · #1779 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Marlin? In official American birth records, Marlin has been tracked continuously since 1884, giving it 141 years of documented American history.
Marlin is currently the #1779 boy name in the United States — 90 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1815, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 20,000 boys born in 2025 was named Marlin.
The 141-year story
Marlin first appears in the Social Security records in 1884, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1935, when 386 boys were named Marlin — good for #276 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Marlin per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marlin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marlin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Marlin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Marlin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Marlin is most common
State-level data for Marlin is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Marlin
Statistically, parents drawn to Marlin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Merlin, Arlin, Melvin, Myron, and Mervin.
MerlinArlinMelvinMyronMervinMarvinAltonErvin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marlin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 90 | #1778 |
| 2024 | 83 | #1902 |
| 2023 | 85 | #1868 |
| 2022 | 78 | #1965 |
| 2021 | 73 | #2026 |
| 2020 | 68 | #2069 |
| 2019 | 74 | #1974 |
| 2018 | 86 | #1777 |
| 2017 | 79 | #1861 |
| 2016 | 70 | #2028 |
| 2015 | 82 | #1815 |
| 2014 | 81 | #1828 |
| 2013 | 71 | #1942 |
| 2012 | 86 | #1742 |
| 2011 | 81 | #1780 |
| 2010 | 69 | #1986 |
| 2009 | 67 | #2050 |
| 2008 | 78 | #1861 |
| 2007 | 94 | #1638 |
| 2006 | 96 | #1543 |
| 2005 | 100 | #1460 |
| 2004 | 85 | #1555 |
| 2003 | 93 | #1420 |
| 2002 | 80 | #1543 |
| 2001 | 97 | #1337 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Marlin?
In official American birth records, the name Marlin first appeared in 1884 (over 141 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Marlin a popular boy name?
Marlin ranked #1779 among boys in 2025 with 90 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1815.
When was the name Marlin most popular?
Marlin peaked in 1935, when 386 American boys received the name (ranked #276 that year). Since 1935 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marlin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 20,000 newborn American boys was named Marlin. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.