Merritt
A unisex given name. A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th and 20th century usage.
Every Merritt since 1880 — 9,382 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Merritt
Merritt is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,505 in 2025 with 117 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 9,382 American babies have been named Merritt — about 66% boys and 34% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 518 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Merritt stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Merritt year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 401 | #703 | 117 | #1,505 |
| 2024 | 159 | #1,410 | 84 | #1,900 |
| 2023 | 136 | #1,563 | 83 | #1,904 |
| 2022 | 139 | #1,544 | 78 | #1,977 |
| 2021 | 127 | #1,648 | 82 | #1,882 |
| 2020 | 139 | #1,531 | 80 | #1,862 |
| 2019 | 133 | #1,603 | 87 | #1,783 |
| 2018 | 151 | #1,459 | 106 | #1,581 |
| 2017 | 175 | #1,333 | 105 | #1,565 |
| 2016 | 155 | #1,481 | 78 | #1,898 |
| 2015 | 81 | #2,308 | 71 | #2,032 |
| 2014 | 87 | #2,191 | 65 | #2,133 |
| 2013 | 50 | #3,250 | 62 | #2,156 |
| 2012 | 43 | #3,690 | 42 | #2,853 |
| 2011 | 38 | #3,982 | 40 | #2,936 |
| 2010 | 31 | #4,699 | 36 | #3,159 |
| 2009 | 31 | #4,772 | 34 | #3,310 |
| 2008 | 44 | #3,687 | 28 | #3,797 |
| 2007 | 35 | #4,353 | 32 | #3,421 |
| 2006 | 22 | #6,063 | 28 | #3,657 |
| 2005 | 39 | #3,783 | 27 | #3,587 |
| 2004 | 34 | #4,152 | 28 | #3,424 |
| 2003 | 44 | #3,328 | 20 | #4,223 |
| 2002 | 25 | #4,851 | 26 | #3,421 |
| 2001 | 36 | #3,679 | 21 | #3,932 |
| 2000 | 29 | #4,256 | 24 | #3,494 |
| 1995 | 35 | #3,265 | 25 | #2,897 |
| 1990 | 22 | #4,468 | 16 | #3,720 |
| 1985 | 23 | #3,692 | 21 | #2,480 |
| 1980 | 16 | #4,662 | 18 | #2,692 |
| 1975 | 21 | #3,361 | 19 | #2,335 |
| 1970 | 31 | #2,430 | 28 | #1,647 |
| 1965 | — | — | 28 | #1,471 |
| 1960 | — | — | 38 | #1,286 |
| 1955 | — | — | 49 | #1,082 |
| 1950 | — | — | 51 | #974 |
| 1945 | — | — | 54 | #858 |
| 1940 | — | — | 53 | #868 |
| 1935 | — | — | 51 | #890 |
| 1930 | — | — | 75 | #734 |
| 1925 | — | — | 82 | #716 |
| 1920 | — | — | 107 | #612 |
| 1915 | — | — | 80 | #649 |
| 1910 | — | — | 14 | #847 |
| 1905 | — | — | 19 | #542 |
| 1900 | — | — | 7 | #1,133 |
| 1895 | — | — | 14 | #570 |
| 1890 | — | — | 12 | #587 |
| 1885 | — | — | 19 | #420 |
| 1880 | — | — | 18 | #418 |
Famous people named Merritt
- Merritt Wever Actor · b. 1980
- Merritt Butrick Actor · 1959–1989
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Merritt mean?
A unisex given name. A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th and 20th century usage.
How popular is the name Merritt in 2025?
Merritt ranked #1,505 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 117 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Merritt?
9,382 babies have been named Merritt in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Merritt most popular?
Merritt peaked in 2025, when 518 newborns received the name.
Is Merritt a boy or girl name?
Merritt is used for both: about 34% of babies named Merritt have been girls and 66% boys.
Is the name Merritt rising or falling?
Merritt is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Merritt?
Well-known people named Merritt include Merritt Wever (actor), Merritt Butrick (actor).