Merl
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #1,202 in 1895
0 babies were named Merl in the US in 2025.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1895–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Merl you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryMerl first shows up in US birth records in 1886, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 139 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1895, when it reached #1,202.
About the name Merl
Merl is a girl name of French and Latin origin. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with M and ending in “-erl”. US birth records list Merl for girls from 1895 to 1966, in 34 of those 72 years. Its best year was 1895, when it ranked #1,202 among girl names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 1966, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:French namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 13 | 76,805 girls |
| 1900s | 6.5 | 155,039 girls |
| 1910s | 8.8 | 114,286 girls |
| 1920s | 8.2 | 122,100 girls |
| 1930s | 3.9 | 259,067 girls |
| 1940s | 1.5 | 684,932 girls |
| 1950s | 0.3 | 3,030,303 girls |
| 1960s | 0.4 | 2,333,333 girls |
More French girl names
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Girl name: Evelyn · possibly desired
- Girl name: Violet · violet flower
- Girl name: Camila · temple attendant
- Girl name: Ellie · possibly light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Unisex name: Avery · elf counsel
- Girl name: Eloise · possibly healthy, wide
Questions about the name Merl
What is the origin of the name Merl?
Merl has French, Latin roots in our records. Other French names include Charlotte, Evelyn, Violet.
Is Merl a boy or girl name?
Merl is a girl name.
How popular is the name Merl?
Merl is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1966. It peaked at #1,202 in 1895.