Marilyn
Meaning of Marilyn
Marilyn, a melodious fusion of the timeless Mary and the lyrical suffix –lyn, first flickered onto American birth registers in the 1910s and then, much like a marquee light on Broadway, blazed into popularity during the mid-century years—a rise synced almost uncannily with the silver-screen magnetism of Marilyn Monroe. Etymologically, it carries Mary’s ancient Hebrew sense of “beloved” or “wished-for child,” while Lynn, drawn from Old English for “lake” or “waterfall,” adds a gentle, flowing undertone, so the composite name whispers of cherished hopes set beside calm waters. The national statistics read like a subtle narrative arc: a meteoric climb to a Top-100 berth in the 1950s, followed by a gradual settling into the mid-hundreds today, suggesting that while the cultural spotlight has moved on, the name still enjoys a comfortable encore among parents looking for vintage charm without mothballs. Modern bearers inherit an intriguing duality—Marilyn can evoke both Hollywood glamour and grandmotherly warmth—allowing a child to grow into either satin or corduroy as temperament dictates.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as MAIR-uh-lin (/mɑrɪˈlɪn/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Marilyn
| Marilyn Monroe was a renowned American actress and model who became a defining sex symbol of the 1950s and an emblem of the sexual revolution. |
| Marilyn Mosby, the former Baltimore State's Attorney, gained national attention for leading the high-profile but unsuccessful prosecution of police officers in the Freddie Gray case. |
| Marilyn vos Savant is an American columnist with the highest recorded IQ who writes the "Ask Marilyn" column and popularized the Monty Hall problem. |
| Marilyn, an English singer, rose to fame in the 1980s as a groundbreaking gender-bending artist with his androgynous look and chart-topping hit "Calling Your Name." |
| Marilyn Horne is an acclaimed American mezzo-soprano celebrated for her beautiful tone and technical mastery in opera, earning honors like the National Medal of Arts and four Grammy Awards. |
| Marilyn Jean Stafford was a British photographer, born in the US, who gained fame as a photojournalist and for her innovative street-style fashion photography in Paris and beyond. |
| Marilyn French was an American radical feminist author best known for her 1977 novel "The Women's Room." |
| Marilyn McCoo is an American singer, actress, and TV presenter best known as the lead female vocalist of the 5th Dimension and host of the 1980s show Solid Gold. |
| Marilyn Churley was an Ontario NDP MPP from 1990 to 2005, served as a cabinet minister, and later ran unsuccessfully for federal Parliament. |
| Marilyn Vance is an American costume designer and filmmaker acclaimed for her Academy Award and BAFTA nominations, as well as receiving the CDG Career Achievement Award in 2009. |
| Marilyn Taylor - Marilyn L. Taylor is an American poet, former Wisconsin Poet Laureate, with six published poetry collections including one nominated for the Poets' Prize. |
| Marilyn Lima is a French actress known for her roles in A Mermaid in Paris, Bang Gang, Skam France, and J'ai menti. |
| Marilyn Jordan Taylor is an American architect who became the first female chairman of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and is renowned for designing major urban and airport projects. |
| Marilyn Tucker Quayle is an American lawyer and novelist who served as second lady from 1989 to 1993 as the wife of Vice President Dan Quayle. |
| Marilyn Louise Warren served as the chief justice of Victoria's Supreme Court and lieutenant-governor of Victoria, Australia. |
