How Many People Are Named Merle?
Complete statistics for the name Merle: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Merle is a very rare male name, with only 11,674 people bearing it in the US today, making up just 1 in 28,269 Americans. It's a classic, old-school name that peaked way back in 1921 with 1,275 births, and now it's seeing a bit of a resurgence.
📖 Meaning & Origin
People with the life path number 8 are believed to be natural leaders who excel in business and finance.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 92All 45,325 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: 1921Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Merle Through the Generations
Merle has been around for generations, but its popularity has waned significantly since its peak in 1921. Today, most people named Merle are over 60, with only 617 under the age of 30. This stark age distribution paints a picture of a name that's deeply rooted in an earlier era, yet it's showing signs of revival among younger parents.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Merle
Merle is a given name used by both men and women, from the English word merle or the French surname Merle, which both meaning blackbird. Related names are Merrill or Muriel.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Merle's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Merle
How Many People Have the Name Merle?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,016 people in the United States currently share the name Merle. That works out to roughly 1 in every 326,230 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Merle a Common or Rare Name?
Merle 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.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Merle in SSA data, approximately 71% are male and 29% are female.
When Was Merle Most Popular?
The name Merle reached peak popularity in 1921, with 1,275 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
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 Merle?
Approximately 1,016 people named Merle live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,016. That works out to roughly 1 in 326,230 Americans.
Is Merle a rare name?
Merle is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 326,230 Americans has this name.
What does the name Merle mean?
The meaning and origin of Merle are shown in the Meaning & Origin section on this page.
Is Merle more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 71% of people named Merle are male and 29% are female.
When was Merle most popular?
Merle peaked in 1921 with 1,275 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
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.