Marilyn is an American blend of Mary and Lynn, so it combines the Hebrew Mary, usually explained as "beloved" or "sea of bitterness", with the Welsh word for a lake. It was created in the early 20th century and became a star name with Marilyn Monroe, who was born Norma Jeane and took the name in 1946. Marilyn ranked number 509 in 2000, rose to number 373 in 2013 and has drifted back to number 761 in 2025.