Meaning & Story
A surname from Old French, possibly derived from a place name, and a given name used particularly in the United States. Marlin is also the name of the large ocean fish famous for speed and power. Finding Nemo made Marlin widely recognizable as the name of Nemo's devoted father.
Marlin has a lovely double life as a fish name and a given name — ocean-loving pet owners will immediately think of the deep blue sea and that devoted, anxious father fish from Finding Nemo who crossed an entire ocean for his son. That association gives Marlin wonderful warmth and a theme of absolute loyalty. As a pet name it suits water-loving breeds and any animal whose owner would cross any ocean for them — which is most of them.