Merlin - love it! When I adopted a kitty for my son I told him that he could name her. He was 6 when we adopted the kitten. He looked at her in the eyes and said "Tinkerbell is her name mom". And so it is. That was 10 years ago and she still plays like a kitten.
He is beautiful. I am suggesting you call him "Tuffy!"
I hope you decide to keep him, all animals wish for a forever home.
Be certain to have a releasable collar, and not too tight!
Was the collar on him?
Here is Little Merlin swishing around in his garden, one of my many companion animals.