Meriwether Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MER-i-wether //ˈmɛrɪˌwɛðər//
Origin: English; Welsh
Meaning: English: cheerful weather; Welsh: sea
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Meriwether has its roots in the Old English elements "merry" and "wether," where "merry" signifies joy or happiness, and "wether" refers to a castrated male sheep, often symbolizing a gentle or soft nature. The name likely evolved through Middle English, retaining its cheerful connotation while adapting to phonetic changes over the centuries.
It entered the English lexicon as a given name in the 19th century, influenced by its use as a surname, which itself can be traced back to various geographical locations in England. Historically, the name gained prominence through notable figures such as Meriwether Lewis, who, alongside William Clark, led the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 19th century.
This expedition, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1804, aimed to explore the newly acquired western territories of the United States following the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis's contributions to American exploration and his subsequent legacy have helped to cement the name Meriwether in American history.
Culturally, the name carries connotations of adventure and exploration, reflecting the spirit of discovery associated with its most famous bearer. The joyful aspect of the name, derived from its Old English roots, also contributes to its appeal, suggesting a lighthearted and optimistic character.
While diminutive forms or variations are less common, the name's unique structure and historical significance lend it a distinctive place in the tapestry of English names, embodying both a sense of joy and a connection to a pivotal moment in American history.
Famous people named Meriwether
In this section, you will find notable people named Meriwether. 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 Meriwether who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Meriwether 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.
Meriwether Lewis is an explorer best known for the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Fictional characters named Meriwether
The following list of fictional characters named Meriwether 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.
Meriwether is a fictional character from the animated film Pocahontas. She is a friend of Pocahontas who supports her in her journey of self-discovery.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Meriwether, 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 Meriwether. 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 Meriwether was first seen in the United States in 2009.
Meriwether has ranked as high as #1379 nationally, which occurred in 2017, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Meriwether has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Meriwether 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 Meriwether was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Meriwether
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 Meriwether.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |