Merritt Unisex

Popularity: #821 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MER-it //ˈmɛrɪt//

Origin: English; Old French

Meaning: English: boundary gate; Old French: from the sea

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Merritt has its roots in Old French, derived from the word "merite," meaning "merit" or "worth." This term was adopted into Middle English as "merit," which carried similar meanings. The transition into English likely occurred during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many French words and names were integrated into the English language.

The name Merritt can also be linked to the Old French surname "Méridien," which means "midday" or "noon," although this connection is less direct. Historically, the name Merritt appears in various forms throughout the centuries, often as a surname before being adopted as a given name.

In England, surnames were commonly derived from occupations, locations, or personal characteristics, and Merritt likely followed this pattern, indicating a person of merit or worth. Notable historical figures with the surname include Merritt B.

Curtis, an American politician in the 19th century, and Merritt H. McGowan, a prominent figure in early 20th-century American history.

The name's use as a given name became more common in the 19th century, reflecting a broader trend of adopting surnames as first names during this period. Culturally, the name Merritt carries connotations of honor and respect, resonating with the idea of deserving recognition for one's actions or character.

This association with merit has allowed the name to maintain a certain dignity and appeal over time. Additionally, the name can be linked to various traditions and values emphasizing the importance of worthiness and achievement.

While diminutive forms such as Merr or Mer can be informally used, the name Merritt itself has retained a strong presence in both historical and cultural contexts.

Famous people named Merritt

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

We also feature individuals named Merritt 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.

Merritt Wever is an actress best known for Nurse Jackie, Godless, and The Walking Dead.

Merritt Patterson is an actress best known for The Royals, Ravenswood, and The Christmas Cottage.

Fictional characters named Merritt

The following list of fictional characters named Merritt 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.

Merritt is a fictional character from the film The Prestige. He is a stage magician who plays a crucial role in the rivalry between two other magicians.

Sibling suggestions

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

MeredithMerrickMerrynMerritMerris

Similar names

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

GarrettEverettBarrettJerrettBennettEmmettRhettTobiasTrentWesley

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Merritt was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Merritt has ranked as high as #1142 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in New York, Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and California.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Merritt 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 Merritt 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 Merritt.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 518 117 401
2024 243 84 159
2023 219 83 136
2022 217 78 139
2021 209 82 127
2020 219 80 139
2019 220 87 133
2018 257 106 151
2017 280 105 175
2016 233 78 155
2015 152 71 81
2014 152 65 87
2013 112 62 50
2012 85 42 43
2011 78 40 38
2010 67 36 31
2009 65 34 31
2008 72 28 44
2007 67 32 35
2006 50 28 22
2005 66 27 39
2004 62 28 34
2003 64 20 44
2002 51 26 25
2001 57 21 36
2000 53 24 29
1999 55 23 32
1998 35 15 20
1997 54 20 34
1996 50 20 30
1995 60 25 35
1994 42 18 24
1993 32 21 11
1992 37 18 19
1991 39 18 21
1990 38 16 22
1989 50 29 21
1988 39 18 21
1987 47 24 23
1986 47 25 22
1985 44 21 23
1984 37 16 21
1983 33 21 12
1982 27 16 11
1981 34 20 14
1980 34 18 16
1979 48 23 25
1978 48 19 29
1977 43 25 18
1976 31 14 17
1975 40 19 21
1974 38 19 19
1973 34 18 16
1972 46 25 21
1971 40 25 15
1970 59 28 31
1969 63 30 33
1968 56 24 32
1967 52 25 27
1966 71 34 37
1965 28 28 0
1964 56 40 16
1963 43 31 12
1962 52 39 13
1961 61 44 17
1960 38 38 0
1959 49 49 0
1958 32 27 5
1957 44 44 0
1956 41 41 0
1955 49 49 0
1954 57 57 0
1953 57 57 0
1952 46 46 0
1951 54 48 6
1950 51 51 0
1949 55 55 0
1948 57 57 0
1947 56 56 0
1946 60 60 0
1945 54 54 0
1944 57 57 0
1943 68 68 0
1942 53 53 0
1941 61 61 0
1940 53 53 0
1939 67 67 0
1938 63 63 0
1937 61 61 0
1936 69 69 0
1935 51 51 0
1934 63 63 0
1933 62 62 0
1932 58 58 0
1931 69 69 0
1930 75 75 0
1929 79 79 0
1928 89 89 0
1927 83 83 0
1926 94 94 0
1925 82 82 0
1924 121 121 0
1923 89 89 0
1922 107 107 0
1921 115 115 0
1920 107 107 0
1919 85 80 5
1918 93 93 0
1917 97 97 0
1916 95 95 0
1915 80 80 0
1914 55 55 0
1913 65 65 0
1912 52 52 0
1911 19 19 0
1910 14 14 0
1909 14 14 0
1908 9 9 0
1907 13 13 0
1906 19 19 0
1905 19 19 0
1904 16 16 0
1903 12 12 0
1902 14 14 0
1901 8 8 0
1900 7 7 0
1899 22 22 0
1898 22 22 0
1897 17 17 0
1896 14 14 0
1895 14 14 0
1894 22 22 0
1893 15 15 0
1892 17 17 0
1891 13 13 0
1890 12 12 0
1889 12 12 0
1888 12 12 0
1887 14 14 0
1886 10 10 0
1885 19 19 0
1884 9 9 0
1883 9 9 0
1882 5 5 0
1881 13 13 0
1880 18 18 0

Top States for Merritt (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
TX 27
19%
NC 25
18%
GA 21
15%
TN 18
13%
NE 15
11%
AL 7
5%
AR 7
5%
KY 6
4%
SC 6
4%
CO 5
4%
OH 5
4%