Mervyn is a name of Welsh origin, derived from the ancient Celtic name Merfyn. The name Merfyn was borne by several early medieval kings of Gwynedd in Wales, including Merfyn Frych, who reigned during the 6th century.
The meaning of Mervyn is not entirely clear, but it is thought to be related to the Welsh word "mer" which means "sea". Therefore, some people interpret the name Mervyn as meaning "from the sea" or "born by the sea".
In terms of history, the name Mervyn has been used in Wales for centuries and can be found among historical figures such as Merfyn ap Cadwallon, who was a 10th-century king of Gwynedd.
Today, Mervyn is still used as a given name but it is relatively uncommon. It is more commonly found as a surname in Wales and the Welsh diaspora around the world. Despite its rarity, Mervyn remains a distinctive and unique name with a rich historical heritage.
The name Mervyn has seen a varied range of popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1905 and 2016, there have been a total of 1580 births recorded with this name.
From its first appearance in 1905 with just 5 births, Mervyn's popularity grew steadily during the early 20th century, peaking at 55 births in 1937. This period from around 1920 to 1940 was the name's heyday, with consistent numbers of babies being given this name each year.
However, after World War II, there was a significant decrease in the popularity of Mervyn. Between 1945 and 1965, the number of births with this name averaged around 10 per year, with some years dropping as low as 8 or even fewer than that.
The latter half of the 20th century saw Mervyn's popularity fluctuate but generally trend downward. There were a few spikes in popularity, such as 14 births in 1981 and 11 births in 1991, but overall, this name became much less common.
By the turn of the millennium, Mervyn had become quite rare, with only 6 or 7 births per year recorded between 2001 and 2016. Despite its decline in popularity over time, it's fascinating to see how a unique name like Mervyn has left its mark on American history through these birth statistics.
While the name may not be as prevalent today, each of those 1580 births represents a person who was given this distinctive name and carried that identity with them throughout their lives.