Mercy Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Mercy is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Mercy?
Mercy is spelled M-E-R-C-Y. The name has 5 letters.
Mercy at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Mercy means compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
- Origin
- The name Mercy derives from the Old French merci, which in turn comes from the Latin merces, meaning reward or wages, later evolving in English to…
- Pronunciation
- MUR-see · 2 syllables
Mercy Popularity in 2025
Rank#862
Recorded Births313
Rank#4,139
Recorded Births25
- Girls usage fell 17 places to #862 and recorded 7 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 182 places to #4,139 and recorded 1 more birth compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Mercy Mean?
Mercy means compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
Origin: The name Mercy derives from the Old French merci, which in turn comes from the Latin merces, meaning reward or wages, later evolving in English to signify compassion or forgiveness.
How Do You Pronounce Mercy?
PronunciationMUR-see
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Mercy?
- History
- Mercy has been used as a given name primarily in English-speaking contexts from the early modern period onward, sometimes reflecting religious or virtue naming traditions.
Mercy Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 313 | #862 |
| 2025 | Boys | 25 | #4,139 |
| 2024 | Girls | 320 | #845 |
| 2024 | Boys | 24 | #4,321 |
| 2023 | Girls | 329 | #834 |
| 2023 | Boys | 28 | #3,883 |
| 2022 | Girls | 355 | #796 |
| 2022 | Boys | 21 | #4,701 |
| 2021 | Girls | 363 | #780 |
| 2021 | Boys | 20 | #4,780 |
| 2020 | Girls | 339 | #801 |
| 2020 | Boys | 17 | #5,235 |
| 2019 | Girls | 441 | #661 |
| 2019 | Boys | 20 | #4,806 |
| 2018 | Girls | 392 | #725 |
| 2018 | Boys | 13 | #6,345 |
| 2017 | Girls | 367 | #758 |
| 2017 | Boys | 16 | #5,526 |
| 2016 | Girls | 360 | #791 |
| 2016 | Boys | 12 | #6,726 |
| 2015 | Girls | 265 | #1,011 |
| 2015 | Boys | 11 | #7,066 |
| 2014 | Girls | 289 | #933 |
| 2014 | Boys | 9 | #8,130 |
When Was Mercy Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2019 · Girls
441 recorded births
National rank #661
2018 · Girls
392 recorded births
National rank #725
2017 · Girls
367 recorded births
National rank #758
2021 · Girls
363 recorded births
National rank #780
Where Mercy Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| IA | #437 | 7 |
| TN | #453 | 17 |
| MD | #549 | 9 |
| AR | #555 | 5 |
| IN | #577 | 11 |
| WA | #586 | 11 |
| GA | #611 | 17 |
| SC | #614 | 7 |