Merrilee Girl

Popularity: — · Trend: → Stable

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MER-ih-lee //ˈmɛr.ɪ.li//

Origin: English; American

Meaning: English: cheerful; American: combination of Mary and Lee

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Merrilee is a modern English name that is believed to be a combination of the name "Merry" and the suffix "-lee." The name "Merry" has its roots in the Old English word "myrge," which means "pleasant" or "joyful," and it has been used in various forms throughout the history of the English language. The suffix "-lee" is derived from the Old English "leah," meaning "clearing" or "meadow," which has been a common element in many English names, particularly those that denote a connection to nature or a specific landscape.

The combination of these elements creates a name that evokes a sense of joy and natural beauty. Historically, the name Merrilee emerged in the 20th century, reflecting a broader trend of creating unique names by blending existing ones.

While there are no specific historical milestones directly associated with the name Merrilee, the use of similar names can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by a growing interest in individuality and creativity in naming conventions. This era saw the rise of names that combined traditional elements with modern sensibilities, allowing for a fresh take on familiar sounds and meanings.

Culturally, the name Merrilee carries connotations of happiness and cheerfulness, aligning with the meanings of its root components. The joyful aspect of the name has made it appealing in various contexts, particularly in literature and the arts, where characters with cheerful or optimistic traits often bear names that reflect these qualities.

While Merrilee does not have a long historical lineage like some other names, its construction and meaning resonate with a sense of positivity and lightness, contributing to its charm and enduring appeal.

Famous people named Merrilee

In this section, you will find notable people named Merrilee. 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 Merrilee who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Merrilee 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.

Merrilee Rush is a singer best known for her hit song Angel of the Morning.

Merrilee McCommas is a musician best known for her work in the folk music genre.

Sibling suggestions

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

MarileeCecilyNatalieEmilyLilyAmelie

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Merrilee. 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.

MerrilynMarilynMelodyMirabelleMireilleMiriamMarinaMabel

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Merrilee was first seen in the United States in 1923.

Merrilee has ranked as high as #1552 nationally, which occurred in 1942, and has been most popular in California, Washington, Illinois, New York, and Michigan.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Merrilee 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 Merrilee 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 Merrilee.

Year Total Births Girl
2023 5 5
2019 5 5
2007 6 6
2002 5 5
1996 5 5
1995 5 5
1994 7 7
1991 7 7
1989 6 6
1987 5 5
1986 6 6
1985 7 7
1984 8 8
1983 8 8
1982 18 18
1981 16 16
1980 14 14
1979 8 8
1978 22 22
1977 16 16
1976 10 10
1975 16 16
1974 11 11
1973 17 17
1972 26 26
1971 40 40
1970 37 37
1969 34 34
1968 20 20
1967 21 21
1966 33 33
1965 24 24
1964 26 26
1963 28 28
1962 33 33
1961 41 41
1960 41 41
1959 45 45
1958 65 65
1957 55 55
1956 54 54
1955 64 64
1954 73 73
1953 69 69
1952 64 64
1951 47 47
1950 42 42
1949 76 76
1948 74 74
1947 67 67
1946 63 63
1945 44 44
1944 61 61
1943 71 71
1942 78 78
1941 18 18
1940 15 15
1939 11 11
1937 10 10
1936 12 12
1935 6 6
1933 8 8
1932 15 15
1928 7 7
1924 13 13
1923 7 7

Top States for Merrilee (1980)

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
UT 5
100%