Boy · #5,101 in 2026

Merlon

A merlon is the solid, upright section of a battlement in medieval architecture or fortifications. Merlons are sometimes pierced by narrow, vertical embrasures, or tooth-like slits designed for observation and fire. The space between two merlons is called a crenel, and a succession of merlons and crenels is a crenellation.

Current Rank
#5,101
Peak Rank
#2,801 (1922)
Total Babies
176
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1930
First Year
1930
Last Year
1930
Peak Year
#4551
Peak Rank
5
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Merlon

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A merlon is the solid, upright section of a battlement in medieval architecture or fortifications. Merlons are sometimes pierced by narrow, vertical embrasures, or tooth-like slits designed for observation and fire. The space between two merlons is called a crenel, and a succession of merlons and crenels is a crenellation.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The term merlon comes from French [1704], adapted from the Italian merlone , possibly a shortened form of mergola , perhaps connected to Latin mergae ("two-pronged pitchfork "), or from a diminutive moerulus , from murus or moerus (a wall ). An alternative etymology suggests that the medieval Latin merulus (mentioned from the end of the 10th century) functioned as a diminutive of Latin merle , " blackbird ", expressing an image of this bird sitting on a wall.

The Story of Merlon

Merlon first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1917, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1922, when 10 Merlons were born — ranking #2,801 that year. As of 2026, Merlon ranks #5,101 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 176 Merlons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Merlon

Phonetically similar names — useful when Merlon is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Merlon

What does the name Merlon mean?
A merlon is the solid, upright section of a battlement in medieval architecture or fortifications. Merlons are sometimes pierced by narrow, vertical embrasures, or tooth-like slits designed for observation and fire. The space between two merlons is called a crenel, and a succession of merlons and crenels is a crenellation.
How popular is Merlon in 2026?
In 2026, Merlon ranks #5,101 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Merlon most popular?
Merlon reached its peak popularity in 1922, ranking #2,801 that year with 10 babies given the name.
Is Merlon a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Merlon is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Merlon?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Merlon include Goble, Versie, Osby. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Merlon

Merlon is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1917 and has accumulated 176 births in the dataset. Merlon's peak popularity came in 1922 when it ranked #2,801. Use the chart and map above to compare Merlon's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.