Marvin
Boy name · #699 in 2025 · Uniqueness 63/100
Marvin ranks #699 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 385 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #548, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,675 boys born in 2025 was named Marvin.
The 145-year story
Marvin first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 69 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1928, when 4,452 boys were named Marvin — good for #46 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 Marvin per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marvin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marvin in class?
Marvin scores 63 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Marvin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marvin is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Marvins were CA (38), TX (35), FL (31), PA (23), GA (21). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Marvin
Statistically, parents drawn to Marvin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Melvin, Alvin, Mervin, Ervin, and Elvin.
MelvinAlvinMervinErvinElvinMarlinMiltonMerlin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marvin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 385 | #699 |
| 2024 | 409 | #670 |
| 2023 | 433 | #636 |
| 2022 | 457 | #611 |
| 2021 | 450 | #618 |
| 2020 | 451 | #606 |
| 2019 | 477 | #583 |
| 2018 | 482 | #573 |
| 2017 | 487 | #557 |
| 2016 | 534 | #542 |
| 2015 | 522 | #548 |
| 2014 | 572 | #492 |
| 2013 | 550 | #498 |
| 2012 | 581 | #470 |
| 2011 | 578 | #465 |
| 2010 | 636 | #430 |
| 2009 | 711 | #415 |
| 2008 | 827 | #372 |
| 2007 | 887 | #356 |
| 2006 | 897 | #344 |
| 2005 | 810 | #365 |
| 2004 | 803 | #352 |
| 2003 | 870 | #333 |
| 2002 | 802 | #341 |
| 2001 | 809 | #341 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Marvin a popular boy name?
Marvin ranked #699 among boys in 2025 with 385 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #548.
When was the name Marvin most popular?
Marvin peaked in 1928, when 4,452 American boys received the name (ranked #46 that year). Since 1928 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marvin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,675 newborn American boys was named Marvin. It scores 63/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.