Meridee Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MER-i-dee //ˈmɛrɪdiː//
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: 'of the sea'; Latin: 'sea' (from 'mare')
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Meridee is believed to have originated as a modern variation of the name Meridith, which itself derives from the Welsh name Maredudd. The Welsh Maredudd is composed of the elements 'mared,' meaning 'to be great,' and 'udd,' which translates to 'lord' or 'noble.' This etymological lineage reflects a deep-rooted connection to Welsh heritage, with the name Maredudd historically associated with nobility and leadership.
The transition from Maredudd to Meridith likely occurred through the influence of English phonetics and naming conventions, particularly during the 19th century when names were often adapted for ease of pronunciation and aesthetic appeal in English-speaking contexts. Historically, the name Maredudd was borne by notable figures in Welsh history, including Maredudd ap Rhys, a king of Deheubarth in the 10th century.
The name gained further recognition through its association with various saints and figures in Welsh folklore, contributing to its cultural significance. The name Meridith, and by extension Meridee, began to appear in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, during the 20th century, as parents sought unique and melodic names for their children.
Culturally, names like Meridee often evoke a sense of individuality and creativity, reflecting a broader trend in naming practices that favor distinctive and lyrical names. The diminutive form 'Meri' has also emerged, providing a more casual and affectionate variant of the name.
Overall, Meridee encapsulates a blend of historical significance, linguistic evolution, and cultural resonance, making it a name with rich roots and a unique identity.
Fictional characters named Meridee
The following list of fictional characters named Meridee 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.
Meridee is a fictional character from the book series The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. She is a young girl who plays a crucial role in helping the protagonist during his quest against dark forces.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Meridee, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Meridee. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Meridee was first seen in the United States in 1941.
Meridee has ranked as high as #879 nationally, which occurred in 1941, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Meridee has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Meridee 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 Meridee was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Meridee
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
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 Meridee.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 5 |
| 1981 | 5 |
| 1980 | 5 |
| 1977 | 5 |
| 1973 | 6 |
| 1968 | 5 |
| 1965 | 5 |
| 1964 | 8 |
| 1963 | 6 |
| 1962 | 9 |
| 1961 | 8 |
| 1960 | 5 |
| 1958 | 5 |
| 1957 | 11 |
| 1955 | 8 |
| 1954 | 5 |
| 1953 | 5 |
| 1952 | 6 |
| 1951 | 7 |
| 1950 | 6 |
| 1949 | 9 |
| 1948 | 7 |
| 1947 | 6 |
| 1945 | 7 |
| 1941 | 11 |