Merit
Meaningmerit · English
- US rank
- #3,130
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #3,130 in 2025
51 babies were named Merit in the US in 2025. It has climbed 5,823 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1965–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Merit you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 31,546 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Merit, 51 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Merit would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMerit first shows up in US birth records in 1918, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 107 years since.
- Best yearMerit is at its all-time high right now: #3,130 in 2025.
- TrendMerit has climbed 5,823 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #3,130. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Boy or girlMerit is given to both boys and girls: 70% of the 73 babies named Merit in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn English, Merit means “merit”.
About the name Merit
Merit is a girl name of English origin meaning “merit”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-rit”. US birth records list Merit for girls from 1965 to 2025, in 28 of those 61 years. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #3,130 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #3,130, with 51 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.3 | 781,250 girls |
| 1970s | 0.4 | 2,500,000 girls |
| 1980s | 0.7 | 1,538,462 girls |
| 1990s | 0.3 | 3,703,704 girls |
| 2000s | 2.2 | 446,429 girls |
| 2010s | 6.2 | 160,514 girls |
| 2020s | 14 | 74,074 girls |
Other spellings of Merit
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Merit
What does the name Merit mean?
Merit means “merit” in English.
What is the origin of the name Merit?
Merit has English roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Merit a boy or girl name?
Merit is a girl name, though a few boys get it too.
How popular is the name Merit?
Merit ranked #3,130 for US girls in 2025, given to 51 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#3,130).