Marvin
/ˈmɑːr.vɪn/noun
A male given name, and also a surname, used in English-speaking countries.
Did you know?Marvin is usually traced to the Welsh name Mervyn, which likely comes from a Brittonic root meaning “sea” or possibly from an older Celtic name element meaning “famous/great,” showing how names can preserve fragments of vanished languages.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Brittonic
Brittonic
*maru- / *mori-
“Possible ancient Celtic roots connected with the sea or greatness, depending on the proposed source”
Old Welsh
Welsh
Mervyn / Merfyn
“A personal name borne by early Welsh figures”
Medieval Welsh
Welsh
Myrddin
“The Welsh form associated with the legendary Merlin”
Middle English
English
Marvin
“A surname and later a given name, adopted from earlier Welsh forms”
Modern English
English
Marvin
“A male given name and surname”