Merrick Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MER-ik //ˈmɛrɪk//
Origin: Welsh; English
Meaning: Welsh: 'ruler of the sea'; English: 'marshland'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Merrick has its roots in the Welsh language, derived from the Old Welsh name 'Myrddin,' which is often associated with the legendary figure Merlin. The etymology can be traced back to the Proto-Celtic *mirdin, meaning 'sea lord' or 'sea ruler.' This name evolved through various forms, including the Latin 'Merlinus' as it was adopted into Latin texts, before making its way into English usage during the medieval period, particularly through Arthurian legends that popularized the character of Merlin, the wizard and advisor to King Arthur.
Historically, the name Merrick has been borne by several notable figures, particularly in Welsh history. One significant milestone is the association with the 6th-century saint Merrick, also known as Saint Meriadoc, who is venerated in Wales.
His legacy contributed to the name's endurance in Welsh culture and its eventual adoption in English-speaking regions. The name appears in various historical texts and genealogies throughout the Middle Ages, reflecting its significance in both religious and secular contexts.
Culturally, the name Merrick has connotations of wisdom and leadership, largely due to its connections with the legendary Merlin. The figure of Merlin has been a symbol of knowledge and magical prowess in literature and folklore, which has helped sustain the name's resonance over the centuries.
Additionally, the diminutive form 'Merr' has been used in various contexts, although it is less common. Overall, Merrick embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic heritage and cultural significance, rooted deeply in Welsh tradition and Arthurian legend.
Famous people named Merrick
In this section, you will find notable people named Merrick. 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 Merrick who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Merrick 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.
Merrick Garland is an attorney and jurist best known for serving as U.S. Attorney General and as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Merrick B. Garland is a lawyer and former judge best known for his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court and his role in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing case.
Fictional characters named Merrick
The following list of fictional characters named Merrick 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.
Merrick is a fictional character from the novel Merrick by Anne Rice. He is a vampire who possesses unique abilities and struggles with his identity and place in the world of the undead.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Merrick, 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 Merrick. 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 Merrick was first seen in the United States in 1905.
Merrick has ranked as high as #1684 nationally, which occurred in 2017, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Washington.
In the past 5 years the name Merrick has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Merrick 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 Merrick 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 Merrick.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 191 | 174 | 17 |
| 2024 | 183 | 167 | 16 |
| 2023 | 229 | 210 | 19 |
| 2022 | 223 | 208 | 15 |
| 2021 | 239 | 218 | 21 |
| 2020 | 218 | 205 | 13 |
| 2019 | 228 | 216 | 12 |
| 2018 | 293 | 274 | 19 |
| 2017 | 296 | 272 | 24 |
| 2016 | 223 | 208 | 15 |
| 2015 | 212 | 192 | 20 |
| 2014 | 209 | 197 | 12 |
| 2013 | 168 | 155 | 13 |
| 2012 | 156 | 143 | 13 |
| 2011 | 127 | 116 | 11 |
| 2010 | 139 | 126 | 13 |
| 2009 | 155 | 145 | 10 |
| 2008 | 161 | 145 | 16 |
| 2007 | 188 | 170 | 18 |
| 2006 | 182 | 159 | 23 |
| 2005 | 154 | 136 | 18 |
| 2004 | 142 | 128 | 14 |
| 2003 | 95 | 79 | 16 |
| 2002 | 77 | 64 | 13 |
| 2001 | 104 | 80 | 24 |
| 2000 | 76 | 69 | 7 |
| 1999 | 77 | 71 | 6 |
| 1998 | 63 | 58 | 5 |
| 1997 | 57 | 42 | 15 |
| 1996 | 68 | 59 | 9 |
| 1995 | 67 | 61 | 6 |
| 1994 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 1993 | 49 | 49 | 0 |
| 1992 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1991 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1990 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1989 | 28 | 22 | 6 |
| 1988 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1987 | 32 | 26 | 6 |
| 1986 | 27 | 20 | 7 |
| 1985 | 41 | 31 | 10 |
| 1984 | 22 | 17 | 5 |
| 1983 | 23 | 14 | 9 |
| 1982 | 27 | 15 | 12 |
| 1981 | 25 | 19 | 6 |
| 1980 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1979 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1978 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1977 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1976 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1975 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1974 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1973 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1972 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1971 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1970 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1969 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1968 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1967 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1966 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1965 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1964 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1963 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1962 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| 1961 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1960 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1959 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1958 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1957 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1956 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1955 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1954 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1953 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1952 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1951 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1950 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1949 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1948 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1947 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1946 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1945 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1944 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1943 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1942 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1941 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1940 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1939 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1938 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1937 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1936 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1935 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1933 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1930 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1929 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1927 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1926 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1925 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1923 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1922 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1921 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1920 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1919 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1918 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1917 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1916 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1915 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1913 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1905 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Merrick (2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 16 | |
| TX | 11 | |
| NC | 9 | |
| IN | 8 | |
| CO | 7 | |
| MN | 7 | |
| MO | 7 | |
| FL | 7 | |
| OH | 7 | |
| MI | 6 | |
| PA | 6 | |
| KY | 6 | |
| IL | 5 | |
| WI | 5 |