Merlin is a distinctive choice, ranked #1517 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Merlin in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#1517
About the Name Merlin
Merlin has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 203 places in five years. It was most popular in 2001 at #786 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Merlin is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Merlin
Unlikely. With around 17 UK babies named Merlin per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Merlin in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Merlin has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 203 places in the last five years. Its peak was #786 in 2001. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Merlin is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Merlin does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Merlins in the wild.
17
UK babies named Merlin (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 203 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Merlin
Likely around 1 other Merlin in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Merlin
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Merlin Santana was an American actor and rapper. Beginning his career in the early 1990s, Santana was best known for his roles as Marcus Dixon on Getting By, Marcus Henry in Under One Roof and Romeo Santana on The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show.
Christopher Merlin Vyvyan Holland is a British and Irish biographer and editor. He is the only grandchild of Oscar Wilde, whose life he has researched and written about extensively.
Joanna Merlin was an American actress and casting director who worked with Stephen Sondheim and starred in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. She wrote two acting guides and was a faculty member of New York University's graduate acting program.
Merlin Rex Lybbert was a Canadian church leader and lawyer who served as a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1989 to 1994. From 1992 to 1994, Lybbert was the thirteenth general president of the LDS Church's Sunday School.
Merlin Jay Olsen was an American professional football player, announcer, and actor. For his entire 15-year professional football career, he was a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League (NFL).