How Many People Are Named Merritt?

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

Merritt
Uncommon
Old English

Merritt means 'of high rank' and is a rare name for boys. Only 1 in 58,205 Americans are named Merritt, making it very uncommon. The name peaked in popularity in 2017 with 280 births, showing it's gaining traction.

~43,857
Living in US
1 in 7,558
Americans
2017
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Of high rank
🌐
Origin
Old English
🌟
Lucky Day
Friday
💎
Lucky Stone
Amethyst
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 4
Personality Traits
Dignified Reliable Strong
4
Life Path Number

People with the life path number 4 are known for their practicality and stability.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

5,670
Worldwide Bearers
#86,780
Global Rank
🇨🇳 China
2
🇻🇪 Venezuela
2
🇵🇪 Peru
2
🇳🇴 Norway
2
🇲🇾 Malaysia
2
🇳🇬 Nigeria
2
🇸🇪 Sweden
1
🇮🇪 Ireland
1
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
1
🇷🇺 Russia
1

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
2,899 (51%)
♀ Female
2,771 (49%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 54
3,493
Would be under 30 (39%)
1,359
Would be 30–60 (15%)
3,993
Would be over 60 (45%)

All 8,845 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: 2017

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
97
Classic Feel
35
Modern Appeal
85
International
5

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

📜 Merritt Through the Generations

Merritt has seen a steady rise in popularity over recent years, with a notable peak in 2017. its current trendiness, a significant portion of people named Merritt are over 60, indicating that while it's becoming more popular among younger parents, it still retains an older generation feel. With 5,670 estimated to be alive today, the name continues to grow in usage, though it remains quite rare overall.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 366
Texas 341
North Carolina 254
Pennsylvania 224
California 214
Georgia 176
Ohio 113
Indiana 111
Illinois 109
Michigan 96

⭐ Famous People Named Merritt

Merritt is a masculine and feminine given name. It is of British origin and is traditionally a male name. Notable people with the name include:Merritt Brunies (1895–1973), American jazz trombonist and cornetist Merritt Bucholz, American architect Merritt Butrick (1959–1989), American actor Merritt L. Campbell (1864–1915), American politician Merritt Clark (1803–1898), businessman and politician Merritt Cooke Jr. (1884–1967), American football player Merritt B. Curtis (1892–1966), United States Marine Corps officer Merritt A. Edson (1897–1955), United States Marine Corps general Merritt Lyndon …

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Merritt

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Merritt's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Merritt

How Many People Have the Name Merritt?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 43,857 people in the United States currently share the name Merritt. That works out to roughly 1 in every 7,558 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.

Is Merritt a Common or Rare Name?

Merritt is classified as Uncommon. 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 Merritt Mean?

Merritt means "of high rank" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 4.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Merritt in SSA data, approximately 51% are male and 49% are female.

When Was Merritt Most Popular?

The name Merritt reached peak popularity in 2017, with 280 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 Merritt?

Approximately 43,857 people named Merritt live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 43,857. That works out to roughly 1 in 7,558 Americans.

Is Merritt a rare name?

Merritt is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 7,558 Americans has this name.

What does the name Merritt mean?

Merritt means "of high rank" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Merritt more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 51% of people named Merritt are male and 49% are female.

When was Merritt most popular?

Merritt peaked in 2017 with 280 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.

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 US43,857
All-Time Births43,857
1 in X1 in 7,558
RarityUncommon
GenderMale
Avg Age54
Peak Year2017
World Rank#86,780
Male %51%
Female %49%

Check the statistics for any first or last name

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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.