Merle Unisex
Origin(s)
PronunciationMUR-ul / ˈmɜːrəlFrench; German
Meaning
French: 'blackbird'; German: 'of the sea'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Merle has roots in both French and German cultures. In French, it is associated with the blackbird, symbolizing joy and song. In German, it relates to the sea, reflecting a connection to nature. The name has been used in various forms throughout history, often as a surname before becoming a given name.
Trend Summary
The name Merle has seen a decline in popularity in the United States over recent decades.
Similar Names
Variants
- Merl
International Variants
- Merle (French)
- Merl (German)
Famous people named Merle
Merle Haggard was an influential American country music singer and songwriter known for his storytelling and musical style.
Merle Oberon was a British actress famous for her roles in classic films during the 1930s and 1940s.
Fictional characters named Merle
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Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Merle was first seen in the United States in 1880. Merle has ranked as high as #379 nationally, which occurred in 1925, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, and Kansas. In the past 5 years the name Merle has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Merle (2020)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 17 |
| 1881 | 13 |
| 1882 | 13 |
| 1883 | 23 |
| 1884 | 19 |
| 1885 | 26 |
| 1886 | 22 |
| 1887 | 24 |
| 1888 | 15 |
| 1889 | 35 |
| 1890 | 26 |
| 1891 | 34 |
| 1892 | 38 |
| 1893 | 27 |
| 1894 | 38 |
| 1895 | 46 |
| 1896 | 44 |
| 1897 | 34 |
| 1898 | 49 |
| 1899 | 42 |
| 1900 | 54 |
| 1901 | 52 |
| 1902 | 58 |
| 1903 | 69 |
| 1904 | 53 |
| 1905 | 59 |
| 1906 | 72 |
| 1907 | 82 |
| 1908 | 76 |
| 1909 | 76 |
| 1910 | 100 |
| 1911 | 115 |
| 1912 | 268 |
| 1913 | 331 |
| 1914 | 415 |
| 1915 | 595 |
| 1916 | 604 |
| 1917 | 701 |
| 1918 | 795 |
| 1919 | 721 |
| 1920 | 819 |
| 1921 | 833 |
| 1922 | 835 |
| 1923 | 775 |
| 1924 | 782 |
| 1925 | 836 |
| 1926 | 787 |
| 1927 | 808 |
| 1928 | 764 |
| 1929 | 731 |
| 1930 | 711 |
| 1931 | 662 |
| 1932 | 593 |
| 1933 | 573 |
| 1934 | 599 |
| 1935 | 521 |
| 1936 | 568 |
| 1937 | 519 |
| 1938 | 525 |
| 1939 | 529 |
| 1940 | 467 |
| 1941 | 482 |
| 1942 | 442 |
| 1943 | 448 |
| 1944 | 391 |
| 1945 | 373 |
| 1946 | 406 |
| 1947 | 392 |
| 1948 | 432 |
| 1949 | 354 |
| 1950 | 395 |
| 1951 | 368 |
| 1952 | 340 |
| 1953 | 325 |
| 1954 | 307 |
| 1955 | 289 |
| 1956 | 292 |
| 1957 | 255 |
| 1958 | 232 |
| 1959 | 227 |
| 1960 | 176 |
| 1961 | 176 |
| 1962 | 180 |
| 1963 | 187 |
| 1964 | 166 |
| 1965 | 159 |
| 1966 | 121 |
| 1967 | 91 |
| 1968 | 136 |
| 1969 | 111 |
| 1970 | 131 |
| 1971 | 157 |
| 1972 | 111 |
| 1973 | 93 |
| 1974 | 79 |
| 1975 | 73 |
| 1976 | 65 |
| 1977 | 80 |
| 1978 | 60 |
| 1979 | 80 |
| 1980 | 59 |
| 1981 | 67 |
| 1982 | 57 |
| 1983 | 65 |
| 1984 | 51 |
| 1985 | 49 |
| 1986 | 35 |
| 1987 | 43 |
| 1988 | 48 |
| 1989 | 28 |
| 1990 | 33 |
| 1991 | 32 |
| 1992 | 33 |
| 1993 | 34 |
| 1994 | 26 |
| 1995 | 35 |
| 1996 | 28 |
| 1997 | 28 |
| 1998 | 20 |
| 1999 | 23 |
| 2000 | 26 |
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 26 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 27 |
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2024 | 22 |