Sharlyn

Meaning & origin

Sharlyn is a mid-20th century American invention that reflects the naming fashion of its time. First recorded in 1935, it reached its highest popularity in 1948 with 20 births, making it a rare example of a name that enjoyed a brief moment of use. The name has been on a falling trajectory since 2005, and today it is given to fewer than five babies per year. Its construction from Sharon and the -lyn suffix places it alongside other similar blends like Marilyn and Carolyn, which were popular in the same era. Though Sharlyn never appeared in the top 1000, its peak year of 1948 shows a clear generational peak. The name has no recorded top states, indicating it was used sporadically across the country.

Sharlyn is a modern coinage from the mid-20th century, formed by blending the name Sharon (from the biblical Plain of Sharon, meaning 'plain' in Hebrew) with the popular suffix -lyn (from names like Evelyn, Marilyn). This pattern of combining existing names with fashionable endings was especially common in the United States during the 1930s-1950s. It first appeared in Social Security records in 1935 and peaked in popularity in 1948, reflecting the era's taste for feminine, soft-sounding invented names.