Best Sibling Names for Merrilyn

Short form of JENNIFER.

From the English word violet for the purple flower, ultimately derived from Latin viola. It was common in Scotland from the 16th century, and it came into general use as an English given name during the 19th century.

Diminutive of SHARON or a variant of SHERRY.

Derived from Latin novus meaning "new". It was first used as a name in the 19th century.

Variant of ZOE.

Means "birth" in Greek. This is the name of the first book of the Old Testament in the Bible. It tells of the creation of the world, the expulsion of Adam and Eve, Noah and the great flood, and the three patriarchs.

From an English surname meaning "son of ADAM". Its recent popularity as a feminine name stems from its similarity in sound to Madison.

Contracted form of KATHERINE.

From the English word for the large grassy plain, ultimately deriving from the Taino (Native American) word zabana. It came into use as a given name in America in the 19th century.

Simply from the English word for the white flower, ultimately derived from Old English dægeseage meaning "day eye".

From the English word for the type of tree, derived ultimately from Latin iuniperus.

Variant of LORRAINE.

From the name of the season, ultimately from Old English sumor. It has been in use as a given name since the 1970s.

English form of GENEVIÈVE.

From the Greek name Αικατερινη (Aikaterine). The etymology is debated: it could derive from the earlier Greek name ‘Εκατερινη (Hekaterine), which came from ‘εκατερος (hekateros) "each of the two"; it could derive from th…

Short form of PEGGY.

Either a combination of LOU and ANN or a variant of LUANA. It was popularized in the 1950s by the singer Lu Ann Simms (1933-2003).

Strictly feminine form of ARIEL.

From the English word for the soft fabric. It became used as a given name after the main character in Enid Bagnold's book 'National Velvet' (1935) and the movie (1944) and television (1960) adaptations.

Variant of REGINA.

Means "good news" from Greek ευ (eu) "good" and αγγελμα (angelma) "news, message". It was (first?) used by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his epic poem 'Evangeline' (1847).

From the name of the laurel tree, ultimately from Latin laurus.

Variant of BETTY.

From a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "Tata's homestead" in Old English.

From the English word harmony, ultimately deriving from Greek ‘αρμονια (harmonia).

Simply from the English word faith, ultimately from Latin fidere "to trust". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century.

Combination of DORA and the name suffix een. The name was (first?) used by novelist Edna Lyall in her novel 'Doreen' (1894).

Diminutive of STEPHEN or STEPHANIE. A famous bearer is the American musician Stevie Wonder (1950-).

Short form of PATRICK or PATRICIA. A famous bearer of this name was Pat Garrett (1850-1908), the sheriff who shot Billy the Kid.

From a surname which was originally taken from a Scottish place name meaning "meadow dwelling". A city in Texas bears this name, probably in honour of American Vice President George Mifflin Dallas.

Possibly derived from the biblical place name Samaria, which means "watch mountain" in Hebrew.

Variant of LAVERNE.

From the term that refers to the southern United States, used by Daniel D. Emmett in his song Dixie in 1859.

Variant of PEYTON.

Variant of Porcia, the feminine form of the Roman family name PORCIUS, used by William Shakespeare for the heroine of his play 'The Merchant of Venice' (1596).

Variant of ARLINE.

Variant of ALICIA. The spelling has probably been influenced by that of the alyssum flower, the name of which is derived from Greek α (a), a negative prefix, combined with λυσσα (lyssa) "madness, rabies", since it was be…

Combination of JAY (1) and the popular name suffix la.

From the name of the bird, ultimately from Old English hræfn. The raven is revered by several Native American groups of the west coast. It is also associated with the Norse god Odin.

From the name of the flower, ultimately derived from Greek αζαλεος (azaleos) "dry".

Variant of ANIYA.

Variant of BROOKLYN.

Diminutive of ROSE.

From the English word royal, derived (via Old French) from Latin regalis, a derivative of rex "king". It was first used as a given name in the 19th century.

Short form of STEPHEN or STEPHANIE.

Short form of GABRIELLA.

Diminutive of DEBORAH.

From the English word meaning "sunny, cheerful".

Variant of ROSALYN.

Elaborated form of GAIL.

Feminine form of DANIEL.

Variant of WENDY.

Variant of KAY (1).

From the English word opal for the iridescent gemstone, the birthstone of October. The word ultimately derives from Sanskrit उपल (upala) meaning "jewel".

Diminutive of DEBORAH.

Variant of CHARISSA.

Variant of ROSALINE using the popular name suffix lyn.

Contracted form of ELEANORA.

Variant of KAYLYN.

Variant of GINA.

From an English surname, originally taken from various place names, which were derived from a Celtic word meaning "high".

Diminutive of KATE.

Means simply "lyric, songlike" from the English word, ultimately derived from Greek λυρικος (lyrikos).

Diminutive of FRANK (1) or FRANCES.

Variant of REBECCA.

Medieval English feminine form of JULIAN. This spelling has been in use since the 13th century, though it was not declared a distinct name from Julian until the 17th century.

Diminutive of JEREMY (and formerly of JAMES).

Variant of ALEXIS.

Diminutive of THERESA.

From the English word darling combined with the popular name suffix lene. This name has been in use since the beginning of the 20th century.

Means "mountain range" in Spanish, referring specifically to a mountain range with jagged peaks.

Variant of SIBYL. This spelling variation has existed since the Middle Ages.

English variant of SUSANNA. This has been most common spelling since the 18th century. A notable bearer was the American feminist Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906).

Latinate form of ESTELLE. This was the name of the heroine, Estella Havisham, in Charles Dickens' novel 'Great Expectations' (1860).

Diminutive of ALEXANDRA.

Diminutive of NELL.

Variant of CAITLIN.

Variant of SCHUYLER. The spelling was modified due to association with the name Tyler and the English word sky.

Diminutive of ABIGAIL.

Either a variant of RENÉE or a diminutive of names ending in reen.

Variant of DOREEN.

Variant of SHARON.

From the English word pearl for the concretions formed in the shells of some mollusks, ultimately from Late Latin perla.

Diminutive of ELIZABETH.

Variant of HAYLEY.

Diminutive of VIRGINIA.

Variant of HAYLEY.

Combination of CHERYL and the popular name suffix lyn.

Diminutive of JANE. It has been in use only since the 20th century.

Variant of ANNIS.

Variant of TAMSIN.

Variant of RACHEL, the spelling probably influenced by that of Michael.

Variant of ARLINE.

Variant of LORRAINE.

Variant of REBECCA.

Diminutive of ANDREA (2).

Means "pretty" in Spanish. It has been used as a name in the English-speaking world since the beginning of the 20th century.

Variant of CHERYL.

Medieval form of TOBIAS. It was sometimes used as a feminine name in the 1930s and 40s due to the influence of American actress Toby Wing (1915-2001).

Short form of BEATRIX and other names beginning with B.

Variant of TARA (1), perhaps influenced by the Latin word terra meaning "land, earth".

From a surname which was a variant of LACY.

Feminine form of CARL.

Short form of names ending with tia. It has been suggested that its use since the 1950s is the result of the brand name for the coffee liqueur Tia Maria.

Variant of SANDY.

Variant of SHANNA.

Variant of ALICIA.

Possibly a short form of names ending with dena. It has also been used as a variant of DEANNA.

From a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "clearing on a bank" in Old English.

Variant of SIBYL. This name was borne by actress Cybill Shepherd (1950-), who was named after her grandfather Cy and her father Bill.

Variant of LUVENIA.

From the name of the region in the northwest of France, called in French Bretagne. It was named for the Britons who settled there after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the invasions of the Anglo-Saxons.

Feminine form of EARL.

From the English word for the type of flower, derived ultimately from Latin iuncus "reed".

Feminine diminutive of CHARLES.

Variant of ERNESTINE.

Short form of ELEANOR. This was the name of the departed love of the narrator in Edgar Allan Poe's poem 'The Raven' (1845).

Variant of TRICIA.

From the English word for a semicircle crown, ultimately of Greek origin.

Feminine form of VERNON, sometimes associated with the Latin word vernus "spring". It has been in use since the 19th century.

Variant of DEVIN. It may also be partly inspired by the name of the county of Devon in England, which got its name from the Dumnonii, a Celtic tribe.

Variant of KATHERINE.

Possibly a feminine variant of SHANNON.

Combination of LEE and ANN.

Variant of ASHLYN.

Diminutive of DEBORAH.

Variant of BAILEY.

Latinate diminutive of FLORA.

Variant of KAREN (1).

Diminutive of TABITHA.

Combination of the popular prefix La with the name YVONNE.

From the English word aura (derived from Greek via Latin meaning "breeze") for a distinctive atmosphere or illumination.

From the English word indigo for the purplish-blue dye or the colour. It is ultimately derived from Greek Ινδικον (Indikon) "Indic, from India".

Elaborated form of PAMELA.

Variant of LORINDA.

Diminutive of MICHELLE.

Diminutive of DOROTHY.

Probably this was originally a variant of LIANA. It is now often considered a combination of LEE and ANNA.

Probably intended to mean "good spear" from Welsh rhon "spear" and da "good", but possibly influenced by the name of the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, which means "noisy". It has been in use only since the 20th century.

Variant of PHOEBE.

Perhaps a short form of DEMETRIA and other names ending in a similar sound.

Meaning unknown, perhaps from a German surname, or perhaps from the English word wild. It has been in use since the 19th century.

Combination of DORA and the name suffix inda. It was apparently coined by the English writers John Dryden and William D'Avenant for their play 'The Enchanted Island' (1667).

Short form of SUSANNA.

Diminutive of GABRIEL or GABRIELLE.

Variant of CHARMAINE.

Feminine variant of ASHLEY.

Variant of ALICIA.

Variant of CHERYL.

Variant of JADA (1).

Diminutive of CHRISTINE.

Diminutive of LALAGE.

Variant of SHARON.

Variant of BRANDY.

Variant of KATHERINE.

From Italian donna meaning "lady". It is also used as a feminine form of DONALD.

Variant of AUBREY.

Variant of AUSTIN.

Variant of DEBORAH.

Diminutive of SUSAN.

Feminine form of JOHN.

Short form of KATRINA.

Short form of ALICIA, FELICIA or LETITIA.

Variant of CAITLIN.

Either a strictly feminine form of TERRY (1) or a diminutive of THERESA.

Diminutive of BERENICE.

Variant of CAITLIN.

Diminutive of CASSANDRA and other names beginning with Cass.

Variant of SHIRLEY.

Diminutive of LETTICE.

Variant of LINDSAY.

Variant of STAR.

Diminutive of EDITH.

Variant of CAITLIN.

Combination of JAY (1) and LEE.

Combination of ANNA and LEE.

Variant of EUNICE.

Variant of JESSAMINE.

From the English word patience, ultimately from Latin patientia, a derivative of pati "to suffer". This was one of the virtue names coined by the Puritans in the 17th century.

Variant of RACHEL.

Variant of JADE.

Feminine variant of ROBIN.

From the English surname SIDNEY. It was first used as a given name in honour of executed politician Algernon Sidney (1622-1683).

Feminine variant of TRACY.

Variant of COLLEEN.

From the English word for the coniferous tree, derived (via Old French and Latin) from Greek κεδρος (kedros).

Variant of TRISTAN, sometimes used as a feminine form.

Variant of ZOE.

Either a strictly feminine form of TERRY (1) or a diminutive of THERESA.

Feminine form of CARL.

Variant of JOY.

In the case of the character from J. M. Barrie's play 'Peter Pan' (1904), it was created from the nickname fwendy "friend", given to the author by a young friend.

This name was invented in the late 16th century by the poet Sir Philip Sidney for use in his poem 'Arcadia'. He possibly intended it to mean "all sweetness" from Greek παν (pan) "all" and μελι (meli) "honey".

Possibly a diminutive of THEODOSIA.

Feminine variant of DANA (2).

Feminine form of RONALD.

Diminutive of ESTHER.

From the English word heather for the variety of small shrubs with pink or white flowers which commonly grow in rocky areas. It is derived from Middle English hather.

Elaborated form of JANE.

Variant of JERRY.