How Many People Are Named Merrill?

Complete statistics for the name Merrill: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Merrill
Rare
Old English

Merrill means 'bright' and has a very rare presence in the US, with just 1 in 60,521 Americans bearing this name. That's around 5,453 people today, making it quite exclusive. The majority, 85%, are over 60, reflecting its status as an old-school classic.

~31,507
Living in US
1 in 10,520
Americans
1926
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Bright
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 6
Personality Traits
Wise Resilient
6
Life Path Number

Traditionally, the life-path number 6 symbolizes harmony, responsibility, and nurturing.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

5,453
Worldwide Bearers
#41,498
Global Rank
🇳🇿 New Zealand
15
🇳🇱 Netherlands
14
🇨🇭 Switzerland
11
🇫🇷 France
9
🇧🇷 Brazil
8
🇸🇬 Singapore
8
🇶🇦 Qatar
8
🇲🇽 Mexico
7
🇲🇾 Malaysia
6
🇹🇭 Thailand
6

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
3,991 (73%)
♀ Female
1,462 (27%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 85
519
Would be under 30 (3%)
1,672
Would be 30–60 (11%)
12,839
Would be over 60 (85%)

All 15,030 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: 1926

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
96
Modern Appeal
4
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Merrill Through the Generations

Merrill peaked in popularity back in 1926 when 321 babies were given this name, marking a high point in its history. Today, the name is mostly carried by older generations, with 12,839 individuals over 60 years old, compared to just 519 under 30. This trend suggests that while Merrill remains cherished, it's slowly declining in usage among younger parents.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

Pennsylvania 884
New York 864
Indiana 669
Iowa 649
Ohio 611
Illinois 566
Utah 552
California 493
Minnesota 387
Michigan 363

⭐ Famous People Named Merrill

Merrill is a unisex given name of English origin.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Merrill

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Merrill's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Merrill

How Many People Have the Name Merrill?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 31,507 people in the United States currently share the name Merrill. That works out to roughly 1 in every 10,520 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Merrill a Common or Rare Name?

Merrill is classified as 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 Merrill Mean?

Merrill means "bright" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 6.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Merrill in SSA data, approximately 73% are male and 27% are female.

When Was Merrill Most Popular?

The name Merrill reached peak popularity in 1926, with 321 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

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 Merrill?

Approximately 31,507 people named Merrill live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 31,507. That works out to roughly 1 in 10,520 Americans.

Is Merrill a rare name?

Merrill is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 10,520 Americans has this name.

What does the name Merrill mean?

Merrill means "bright" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Merrill more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 73% of people named Merrill are male and 27% are female.

When was Merrill most popular?

Merrill peaked in 1926 with 321 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

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.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US31,507
All-Time Births31,507
1 in X1 in 10,520
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age85
Peak Year1926
World Rank#41,498
Male %73%
Female %27%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.