I recently read the book We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (highly, highly recommend it), and one of the main characters is called Mirren. At first all I could think of was Helen Mirren, but now I actually find it a really nice name in itself.
What are your thoughts?
Do you prefer Merrin? I do, in part because I wouldn't want an overt connection to an actor.
Mirren is a girl in the novel, I should point out, and I see Merrin as primarily a girl's name too.