How Many People Are Named Merl?
Complete statistics for the name Merl: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Merl is an uncommon name with roots in Old English, making it very rare today. Only 626 people in the US carry this name, which means 1 in 527,305 Americans have it. The majority of those named Merl are over 60, with the oldest generation dominating.
📖 Meaning & Origin
People with the life path number 3 are known for their creativity and ability to inspire others.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 94All 2,852 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1922Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Stable
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Merl Through the Generations
Merl peaked in popularity in 1922 when 92 babies were given this name. Since then, its usage has remained stable, becoming a classic choice for parents seeking an old-school moniker. Today, most people named Merl are over 60, with just 132 individuals aged between 30 and 60, indicating a strong generational skew towards older adults.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Merl's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Merl
How Many People Have the Name Merl?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 228 people in the United States currently share the name Merl. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,453,725 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Merl a Common or Rare Name?
Merl is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Merl Mean?
Merl means "spear" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Merl in SSA data, approximately 95% are male and 5% are female.
When Was Merl Most Popular?
The name Merl reached peak popularity in 1922, with 92 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Merl?
Approximately 228 people named Merl live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 228. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,453,725 Americans.
Is Merl a rare name?
Merl is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,453,725 Americans has this name.
What does the name Merl mean?
Merl means "spear" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Merl more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 95% of people named Merl are male and 5% are female.
When was Merl most popular?
Merl peaked in 1922 with 92 births that year. Current trend: Stable.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.