Mervin Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Mervin is a name of Old Welsh origin, meaning 'sea hill' or 'sea fortress'. It evolved from the name Myrfyn through forms like Mervyn. The name is associated with traits of strength and stability, though it does not have a biblical relevance. Mervin gained popularity in the 19th century and is viewed as a traditional name today.
The name Mervin is most popular in Pennsylvania, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Mervin has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Mervin' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 420th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 445th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 687th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 997th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1419th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2153rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2609th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6096th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 8072nd out of 9204 names. Discover how the name 'Mervin' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Mervin"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɜːrvɪn/
Origin
Old Welsh
Etymology
The name Mervin is derived from the Old Welsh name 'Myrfyn', which means 'sea hill' or 'sea fortress'. It combines the elements 'mor' meaning 'sea' and 'bryn' meaning 'hill'.
Meaning
sea hill, sea fortress
Language Evolution
Myrfyn, Mervyn, Mervin
Historical Usage
Mervin gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, particularly in Wales and England. It was used in literary contexts and gained traction as a given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Mervyn, Merv, Mer
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Mervin is considered somewhat old-fashioned and is less common as a modern name. It may evoke a sense of tradition and heritage.
Famous People
Mervin D. Kauffman - American mathematician and educator, Mervin B. McCoy - American politician
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Mervin"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Mervin"
"Mervin" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 420th of 7545 | 3,203 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 445th of 6773 | 3,201 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 687th of 7552 | 2,189 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 997th of 10718 | 1,044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1419th of 16616 | 930 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2153rd of 24088 | 897 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2609th of 23106 | 595 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6096th of 9107 | 28 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 8072nd of 9204 | 10 |
Regional Popularity of "Mervin" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
20.83% 295th/1416 |
25.96% 358th/1379 |
29.08% 688th/2366 |
31.09% 355th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
19.73% 305th/1546 |
24.29% 378th/1556 |
30.51% 718th/2353 |
29.80% 461st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
27.17% 605th/2227 |
25.02% 608th/2430 |
29.48% 841st/2853 |
29.33% 814th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
30.27% 889th/2937 |
22.57% 786th/3483 |
38.29% 1347th/3518 |
35.51% 1436th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
28.85% 1063rd/3685 |
18.32% 820th/4475 |
50.17% 2606th/5194 |
37.15% 2347th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
27.65% 1267th/4582 |
22.58% 1166th/5164 |
65.06% 4758th/7313 |
55.88% 4170th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
36.90% 1470th/3984 |
26.32% 1181st/4487 |
- | - |
Regional Popularity of "Mervin" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
94.89% 2245th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Mervin"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Mervin" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.