Merry
Meaningmerry, joyful · English
- US rank
- #10,107
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #455 in 1948
9 babies were named Merry in the US in 2025. It has dropped 3,478 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1898–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Merry you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 178,571 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Merry, 9 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Merry would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMerry first shows up in US birth records in 1898, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 127 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1948, when it ranked #455. Today it's #10,107, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowMerry was 2.4× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 75,758 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 178,571.
- TrendMerry has slipped 3,478 places over the last five years and now sits at #10,107. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn English, Merry means “merry, joyful”. Our records link it to English and Welsh roots.
About the name Merry
Merry is a girl name of English and Welsh origin meaning “merry, joyful”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-rry”. US birth records list Merry for girls from 1898 to 2025, in 122 of those 128 years. Its best year was 1948, when it ranked #455 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #10,107, with 9 babies.
Origin:English namesWelsh names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 9.7 | 103,627 girls |
| 1900s | 9.7 | 103,413 girls |
| 1910s | 24 | 41,736 girls |
| 1920s | 41 | 24,207 girls |
| 1930s | 62 | 16,158 girls |
| 1940s | 152 | 6,578 girls |
| 1950s | 155 | 6,445 girls |
| 1960s | 98 | 10,156 girls |
| 1970s | 45 | 22,396 girls |
| 1980s | 26 | 39,185 girls |
| 1990s | 16 | 61,576 girls |
| 2000s | 11 | 92,336 girls |
| 2010s | 12 | 85,179 girls |
| 2020s | 8.7 | 114,504 girls |
Other spellings of Merry
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 Merry
What does the name Merry mean?
Merry means “merry, joyful” in English.
What is the origin of the name Merry?
Merry has English, Welsh roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Merry a boy or girl name?
Merry is a girl name.
How popular is the name Merry?
Merry ranked #10,107 for US girls in 2025, given to 9 babies. Its best year was 1948 (#455).