The legendary Marilyn Monroe's 🎉birthday is today and so I will be covering the much celebrated name: Marilyn.
When most people think of a Marilyn, they think of iconic actress Marilyn Monroe without question. How could you not? Even after her death (RIP), over sixty years later, she is still considered the standard of beauty and a sex symbol no one will ever replicate. Marilyn Monroe not only had that 'je ne sais quoi' but her name did too. Her stage name was perfection. Norma Monroe even, does not have the same ring to it like, Marilyn Monroe. Monroe's birth name was a bland: Norma Jeane Mortenson (later she was baptized as Norma Jeane Baker).
The name Marilyn is a combination of Mary and the common name suffix lyn. Marilyn was a rare name before the beginning of the 20th century, Behind the Name says. In 1936, the name Marilyn was the 13th most popular name for girls. Before Marilyn Monroe popularized it, Marilyn Miller (whose real name was Mary Ellen Reynolds) did. Miller was a Broadway star who movie studio executive Ben Lyon said Monroe reminded him of, which is how Monroe got the name Marilyn as her stage name. On the flip side, another well-known actress Kim Novak was born Marilyn Pauline Novak.
Nameberry reports that Marilyn is the 666th most popular name for baby girls in 2024. My Name Stats states California is the state with the most women named Marilyn, which is fitting as that is where Marilyn Monroe was born.
I'm a fan of the name Marilyn more so because I'm a fan of Marilyn Monroe I admit. Although charming, there's certainly nothing fancy about the name Marilyn in itself, today it sounds outdated even. It's actually kind of plain... to be honest. 🤔 But Monroe wore Marilyn and wore it well. The memorable Monroe surname (from Marilyn's mother's family side) definitely helped give oomph! to Marilyn. I think if Marilyn had been named even the terrible name Bertha (sorry Berthas!), I'd like the name Bertha! 😅
I've met just two Marilyns so far in my life. The first Marilyn was a classmate in middle school, who certainly did not 'look like a Marilyn' as she was petite/nerdy. The second Marilyn I met was a customer (an older woman) at a bookstore I worked at. When she gave me her name to either use her membership card or get one, I saw the name Marilyn and remarked she had a nice name and how I love Marilyn Monroe. She was flattered, thanked me and remarked something how Marilyn wasn't as common as it used to be. I believe I agreed with her.
The vintage name Marilyn will continue to live on for a long time to come, simply because of the "Marilyn Monroe Effect" 💋 — and that's a good thing!
📌👀Reddit 📛namenerds 👌 Community Thread: "Marilyn... but for a boy?" 👶💙
https://www.reddit.com/r/namenerds/comments/an27hi/marilyn_but_for_a_boy/
⭐FAMOUS & 📝NOTEWORTHY 📛MARILYNS:
📛Marilyn Manson 🤘🏻🌟 (musician)
📛Marilyn Mosby ⚖ (politician & lawyer)
📛Marilyn Horne 🎤 (opera singer)
📛Marilyn Valderrama 
(sister of actor Wilmer Valderrama)
📛Marilyn Monru 🎵 (TikTok content creator)
📌STATS ON THE NAME 📛Marilyn:
https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/M/MA/MARILYN/index.html
☔📛IRN RATING OF 📛Marilyn: 👍 OR 💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓/10
