Meri Girl

Popularity: #939 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MEH-ree /ˈmɛri/

Origin: Hebrew; Latin; Finnish

Meaning: Hebrew: 'bitter'; Latin: 'of the sea'; Finnish: 'beloved'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Meri has its roots in several linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the Hebrew name Miriam, which is believed to mean "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness." The name Miriam was adopted into Greek as Maria, which later influenced the Latin form Maria. This Latin version made its way into Old French as Marie, which subsequently evolved into various forms across different languages, including Meri in some cultures.

The transition into English occurred through the influence of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which brought many French names into the English lexicon. Historically, the name Meri and its variants have been associated with significant biblical figures, particularly the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, who is venerated in Christianity.

The name Maria appears prominently in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels, which were translated into various languages, including the King James Bible in the early 17th century. The enduring legacy of Mary as a symbol of purity and motherhood has contributed to the name's historical significance and cultural resonance across Christian traditions.

In various cultures, the name Meri has been embraced for its melodic quality and its connection to revered figures. In some traditions, it is also associated with joy and happiness, reflecting the positive attributes often ascribed to Mary.

The name has been used in literature and art, further solidifying its place in cultural history. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Mimi or Miri have emerged in different contexts, showcasing the name's adaptability and continued relevance in various linguistic and cultural landscapes.

Famous people named Meri

In this section, you will find notable people named Meri. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Meri who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Meri who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Meri Brown is a television personality best known for Sister Wives.

Fictional characters named Meri

The following list of fictional characters named Meri is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Meri is a fictional character from the video game series The Legend of Zelda. She is a key character in the game, often providing guidance and support to the protagonist, Link.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Meri, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MayaLilaNinaSaraTara

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Meri. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

MiraMinaMiraeMeryMaryMiri

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Meri was first seen in the United States in 1917.

Meri has ranked as high as #1921 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in California, New York, Michigan, Illinois, and Texas.

In the past 5 years the name Meri has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Meri is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Meri was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Meri.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 9 9
2024 13 13
2023 13 13
2022 7 7
2021 14 14
2020 8 8
2019 10 10
2018 11 11
2017 5 5
2016 13 13
2015 8 8
2014 8 8
2013 7 7
2012 16 16
2011 8 8
2010 5 5
2009 7 7
2008 7 7
2007 14 14
2006 10 10
2005 14 14
2004 15 15
2003 11 11
2002 17 17
2001 14 14
2000 24 24
1999 10 10
1998 16 16
1997 14 14
1996 8 8
1995 24 24
1994 12 12
1993 11 11
1992 20 20
1991 26 26
1990 16 16
1989 15 15
1988 14 14
1987 11 11
1986 18 18
1985 16 16
1984 22 22
1983 20 20
1982 20 20
1981 27 27
1980 17 17
1979 32 32
1978 23 23
1977 28 28
1976 36 36
1975 33 33
1974 36 36
1973 47 47
1972 40 40
1971 44 44
1970 60 60
1969 45 45
1968 44 44
1967 59 59
1966 51 51
1965 62 62
1964 63 63
1963 77 77
1962 76 76
1961 89 89
1960 78 78
1959 74 74
1958 43 43
1957 51 51
1956 59 59
1955 74 74
1954 56 56
1953 62 62
1952 42 42
1951 38 38
1950 44 44
1949 46 46
1948 38 38
1947 42 42
1946 48 48
1945 31 31
1944 20 20
1943 22 22
1942 9 9
1941 9 9
1937 5 5
1934 5 5
1932 5 5
1924 7 7
1923 6 6
1920 7 7
1919 6 6
1917 5 5

Top States for Meri (1981)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 5
100%