Fun Facts About the Name Marvin
- Decades of popularity: Marvin stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 51 consecutive years, from 1905 through 1955.
- More than 255 thousand babies named Marvin: U.S. records list 255,786 babies given the name Marvin from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,615 girls received the name Marvin - about 1 girl for every 157 boys.
What Does the Name Marvin Mean?
Marvin is an English masculine name that comes from the Welsh personal name Merfyn, also anglicized as Mervyn. The meaning of Merfyn is not securely known. A common explanation derives it from Welsh môr "sea" and a second element thought to mean "hill," giving the traditional gloss "sea hill." That derivation is plausible but not firmly established, so the name's meaning is best described as uncertain.
Marvin is generally treated as a spelling variant of Mervyn rather than as a separate ancient name with its own meaning. The English surname Marvin comes from the same personal name, and the given name Marvin is used alongside the surname and the older form Mervyn.
Marvin Name History & Origins
The Welsh name Merfyn is recorded in the ninth century. Its best-known early bearer was Merfyn Frych ("Merfyn the Freckled"), king of Gwynedd in north Wales, who died in 844. The name continued in use in medieval Wales, and it was later anglicized in England as Mervyn. The spelling Marvin is an English variant of that anglicized form.
The surname Marvin is derived from the personal name. The given name Marvin is an English variant of Mervyn and is also found as a surname-derived given name. The two forms, Mervyn and Marvin, have often been interchangeable in English.
Modern fiction has given Marvin additional associations: Marvin the Martian in Warner Bros. cartoons and Marvin the Paranoid Android in Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. These are later uses of the name, not the source of its meaning or its earliest recorded history.
How Popular is the Name Marvin?
Marvin remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1905 to 1955. Its highest annual birth count was in 1928, and people born that year turn 98 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | #17,130 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #17,847 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #12,810 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #9,232 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #14,669 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #14,539 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #10,940 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #13,731 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #5,495 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #4,603 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #7,505 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #4,999 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1984 | #5,748 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #6,059 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #7,254 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #4,651 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1980 | #6,169 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #4,993 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1978 | #4,588 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #3,859 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #3,898 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1975 | #4,280 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #3,385 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1973 | #3,303 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1972 | #3,020 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1971 | #2,702 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1970 | #5,662 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #3,409 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1968 | #2,340 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1967 | #2,473 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1966 | #3,003 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1965 | #2,722 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1964 | #2,232 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1963 | #2,463 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1962 | #2,997 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1961 | #2,722 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #3,064 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #4,207 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #2,552 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #3,107 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #2,590 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,912 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #2,973 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #2,217 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1952 | #3,140 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #2,769 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #2,739 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1949 | #2,315 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1948 | #2,163 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1947 | #2,326 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1946 | #2,284 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1945 | #2,122 | 17 | 0.0013% |
| 1944 | #1,688 | 25 | 0.0019% |
| 1943 | #1,928 | 21 | 0.0015% |
| 1942 | #2,091 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1941 | #1,932 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1940 | #1,775 | 21 | 0.0018% |
| 1939 | #1,710 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1938 | #2,297 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1937 | #2,063 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1936 | #1,848 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1935 | #1,591 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1934 | #1,748 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1933 | #1,348 | 29 | 0.0029% |
| 1932 | #1,287 | 33 | 0.0031% |
| 1931 | #1,363 | 30 | 0.0028% |
| 1930 | #1,283 | 35 | 0.0031% |
| 1929 | #1,118 | 44 | 0.0039% |
| 1928 | #1,385 | 32 | 0.0028% |
| 1927 | #1,322 | 37 | 0.0031% |
| 1926 | #1,405 | 33 | 0.0028% |
| 1925 | #1,681 | 26 | 0.0021% |
| 1924 | #1,273 | 40 | 0.0032% |
| 1923 | #1,657 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1922 | #1,761 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1921 | #1,846 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1920 | #1,734 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1919 | #2,459 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1918 | #1,787 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1917 | #2,163 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1916 | #2,602 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1915 | #2,106 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1914 | #2,373 | 10 | 0.0013% |
| 1913 | #2,118 | 10 | 0.0016% |
| 1912 | #3,275 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| 1911 | #1,894 | 8 | 0.0019% |
| 1910 | #1,880 | 8 | 0.0020% |
| 1909 | #1,897 | 7 | 0.0020% |
| 1908 | #1,785 | 7 | 0.0021% |
| 1905 | #2,131 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| 1902 | #1,726 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #699 | 385 | 0.0225% |
| 2024 | #671 | 406 | 0.0237% |
| 2023 | #638 | 432 | 0.0253% |
| 2022 | #612 | 457 | 0.0262% |
| 2021 | #619 | 450 | 0.0257% |
| 2020 | #606 | 451 | 0.0261% |
| 2019 | #584 | 477 | 0.0266% |
| 2018 | #577 | 480 | 0.0264% |
| 2017 | #559 | 487 | 0.0263% |
| 2016 | #542 | 533 | 0.0281% |
| 2015 | #548 | 522 | 0.0272% |
| 2014 | #493 | 571 | 0.0297% |
| 2013 | #498 | 550 | 0.0291% |
| 2012 | #471 | 581 | 0.0306% |
| 2011 | #466 | 577 | 0.0304% |
| 2010 | #431 | 636 | 0.0332% |
| 2009 | #415 | 710 | 0.0358% |
| 2008 | #372 | 827 | 0.0405% |
| 2007 | #356 | 887 | 0.0427% |
| 2006 | #344 | 896 | 0.0436% |
| 2005 | #365 | 809 | 0.0405% |
| 2004 | #352 | 802 | 0.0404% |
| 2003 | #333 | 870 | 0.0440% |
| 2002 | #341 | 802 | 0.0413% |
| 2001 | #341 | 809 | 0.0416% |
| 2000 | #336 | 815 | 0.0415% |
| 1999 | #348 | 765 | 0.0398% |
| 1998 | #323 | 840 | 0.0439% |
| 1997 | #311 | 858 | 0.0455% |
| 1996 | #303 | 871 | 0.0460% |
| 1995 | #314 | 843 | 0.0443% |
| 1994 | #278 | 978 | 0.0506% |
| 1993 | #267 | 1,081 | 0.0551% |
| 1992 | #244 | 1,175 | 0.0588% |
| 1991 | #237 | 1,193 | 0.0591% |
| 1990 | #237 | 1,216 | 0.0592% |
| 1989 | #227 | 1,191 | 0.0595% |
| 1988 | #221 | 1,152 | 0.0602% |
| 1987 | #221 | 1,079 | 0.0578% |
| 1986 | #212 | 1,137 | 0.0617% |
| 1985 | #212 | 1,143 | 0.0618% |
| 1984 | #210 | 1,100 | 0.0609% |
| 1983 | #202 | 1,172 | 0.0654% |
| 1982 | #214 | 1,135 | 0.0625% |
| 1981 | #212 | 1,171 | 0.0654% |
| 1980 | #200 | 1,224 | 0.0686% |
| 1979 | #196 | 1,245 | 0.0723% |
| 1978 | #196 | 1,200 | 0.0731% |
| 1977 | #196 | 1,172 | 0.0713% |
| 1976 | #181 | 1,253 | 0.0799% |
| 1975 | #177 | 1,309 | 0.0838% |
| 1974 | #163 | 1,486 | 0.0945% |
| 1973 | #162 | 1,506 | 0.0966% |
| 1972 | #163 | 1,594 | 0.0983% |
| 1971 | #152 | 1,931 | 0.1092% |
| 1970 | #153 | 2,036 | 0.1096% |
| 1969 | #139 | 2,198 | 0.1229% |
| 1968 | #129 | 2,255 | 0.1297% |
| 1967 | #124 | 2,427 | 0.1392% |
| 1966 | #113 | 2,735 | 0.1534% |
| 1965 | #109 | 2,969 | 0.1596% |
| 1964 | #119 | 2,977 | 0.1494% |
| 1963 | #120 | 2,975 | 0.1465% |
| 1962 | #118 | 3,130 | 0.1513% |
| 1961 | #120 | 3,185 | 0.1500% |
| 1960 | #119 | 3,276 | 0.1537% |
| 1959 | #123 | 3,168 | 0.1484% |
| 1958 | #119 | 3,301 | 0.1555% |
| 1957 | #112 | 3,408 | 0.1580% |
| 1956 | #105 | 3,482 | 0.1646% |
| 1955 | #94 | 3,660 | 0.1777% |
| 1954 | #97 | 3,498 | 0.1716% |
| 1953 | #94 | 3,564 | 0.1807% |
| 1952 | #95 | 3,575 | 0.1839% |
| 1951 | #96 | 3,557 | 0.1889% |
| 1950 | #93 | 3,493 | 0.1951% |
| 1949 | #89 | 3,725 | 0.2100% |
| 1948 | #90 | 3,625 | 0.2066% |
| 1947 | #89 | 3,773 | 0.2062% |
| 1946 | #88 | 3,600 | 0.2217% |
| 1945 | #80 | 3,294 | 0.2448% |
| 1944 | #75 | 3,568 | 0.2618% |
| 1943 | #66 | 3,939 | 0.2760% |
| 1942 | #66 | 3,792 | 0.2746% |
| 1941 | #63 | 3,626 | 0.2952% |
| 1940 | #63 | 3,502 | 0.3021% |
| 1939 | #52 | 3,758 | 0.3395% |
| 1938 | #53 | 3,900 | 0.3516% |
| 1937 | #49 | 3,912 | 0.3668% |
| 1936 | #49 | 3,936 | 0.3795% |
| 1935 | #45 | 4,278 | 0.4108% |
| 1934 | #44 | 4,217 | 0.4084% |
| 1933 | #44 | 4,131 | 0.4166% |
| 1932 | #46 | 4,188 | 0.4011% |
| 1931 | #45 | 4,360 | 0.4194% |
| 1930 | #48 | 4,403 | 0.4012% |
| 1929 | #46 | 4,389 | 0.4080% |
| 1928 | #46 | 4,452 | 0.4019% |
| 1927 | #47 | 4,397 | 0.3902% |
| 1926 | #50 | 4,111 | 0.3702% |
| 1925 | #51 | 4,092 | 0.3667% |
| 1924 | #50 | 4,024 | 0.3552% |
| 1923 | #51 | 3,810 | 0.3476% |
| 1922 | #56 | 3,580 | 0.3290% |
| 1921 | #59 | 3,490 | 0.3169% |
| 1920 | #62 | 3,244 | 0.3048% |
| 1919 | #63 | 2,997 | 0.3058% |
| 1918 | #68 | 2,829 | 0.2791% |
| 1917 | #68 | 2,517 | 0.2720% |
| 1916 | #66 | 2,529 | 0.2841% |
| 1915 | #72 | 2,227 | 0.2624% |
| 1914 | #75 | 1,627 | 0.2485% |
| 1913 | #77 | 1,236 | 0.2411% |
| 1912 | #83 | 958 | 0.2228% |
| 1911 | #82 | 488 | 0.2160% |
| 1910 | #84 | 413 | 0.2127% |
| 1909 | #85 | 354 | 0.2159% |
| 1908 | #87 | 311 | 0.2015% |
| 1907 | #87 | 304 | 0.2070% |
| 1906 | #94 | 245 | 0.1840% |
| 1905 | #100 | 215 | 0.1625% |
| 1904 | #104 | 203 | 0.1584% |
| 1903 | #106 | 185 | 0.1552% |
| 1902 | #105 | 186 | 0.1516% |
| 1901 | #117 | 145 | 0.1362% |
| 1900 | #130 | 176 | 0.1170% |
| 1899 | #121 | 138 | 0.1299% |
| 1898 | #141 | 127 | 0.1035% |
| 1897 | #122 | 134 | 0.1188% |
| 1896 | #175 | 93 | 0.0778% |
| 1895 | #144 | 107 | 0.0911% |
| 1894 | #168 | 92 | 0.0795% |
| 1893 | #148 | 102 | 0.0908% |
| 1892 | #180 | 88 | 0.0721% |
| 1891 | #143 | 93 | 0.0919% |
| 1890 | #143 | 99 | 0.0892% |
| 1889 | #175 | 77 | 0.0696% |
| 1888 | #167 | 90 | 0.0745% |
| 1887 | #181 | 70 | 0.0690% |
| 1886 | #155 | 90 | 0.0812% |
| 1885 | #197 | 65 | 0.0603% |
| 1884 | #190 | 73 | 0.0638% |
| 1883 | #174 | 71 | 0.0679% |
| 1882 | #201 | 64 | 0.0563% |
| 1881 | #200 | 57 | 0.0566% |
| 1880 | #184 | 69 | 0.0624% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Marvin
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Marvin Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Marvin's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Marvin's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.