Marilyn

Marilyn is a feminine given name widely used in English-speaking countries. It is commonly regarded as a blend of Mary or Marie with the suffix -lyn or -line, or as a variant of Marian. The name rose to prominence in the 20th century, with peak popularity in the United States during the 1940s to 1960s, and it remains in occasional use today.

Etymology and meaning: The root Mary means "beloved" in Hebrew, and Marilyn derives from Mary through blending rather than from a standalone semantic element. The -lyn suffix is a common stylistic element in English female names.

Notable people: Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) was an American actress and cultural icon who helped popularize the given name. Marilyn vos Savant (born 1946) is an American magazine columnist known for high IQ claims and the "Ask Marilyn" column. Marilyn Horne (born 1934) is an American mezzo-soprano with a prominent international career. Marilyn Manson (born 1969) is an American musician who uses Marilyn as part of his stage name. Marilyn Waring (born 1950) is a New Zealand economist, feminist, and politician. Marilynne Robinson (born 1943) is an American novelist and essayist, author of Gilead and Home.

Other uses: In British Isles hill walking, a Marilyn is a hill with a topographic prominence of at least 150 meters; the term was coined in 1992 by Alan Dawson as a nod to Marilyn Monroe, serving as a counterpart to Munro. Variants include Marilin, Marilynn, and Marilynne as given names, though the latter is mainly a spelling variant.