Sea fortress or falcon
A feminine diminutive of Merlin, likely derived from the Welsh name Myrddin meaning 'sea fortress'. It is also associated with the French word 'merle' for blackbird or the merlin falcon, a bird of prey.
Less common today
Merline isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #8,561 in 1990.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Best-selling American romance novelist
