Merritt Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Merritt is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Merritt?
Merritt is spelled M-E-R-R-I-T-T. The name has 7 letters.
Merritt at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Merritt is derived from Old English elements meaning “boundary gate” or “gate at the boundary.”
- Origin
- The name Merritt may derive from Old English origins related to geographical features such as a gate or boundary marker.
- Pronunciation
- MER-it · 2 syllables
Merritt Popularity in 2025
Rank#703
Recorded Births401
Rank#1,499
Recorded Births117
- Girls usage rose 703 places to #703 and recorded 242 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 392 places to #1,499 and recorded 33 more births 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 Merritt Mean?
Merritt is derived from Old English elements meaning “boundary gate” or “gate at the boundary.”
Origin: The name Merritt may derive from Old English origins related to geographical features such as a gate or boundary marker.
How Do You Pronounce Merritt?
PronunciationMER-it
Syllables2
Merritt 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 | 401 | #703 |
| 2025 | Boys | 117 | #1,499 |
| 2024 | Girls | 159 | #1,406 |
| 2024 | Boys | 84 | #1,891 |
| 2023 | Girls | 136 | #1,557 |
| 2023 | Boys | 83 | #1,896 |
| 2022 | Girls | 139 | #1,540 |
| 2022 | Boys | 78 | #1,965 |
| 2021 | Girls | 127 | #1,641 |
| 2021 | Boys | 82 | #1,870 |
| 2020 | Girls | 139 | #1,524 |
| 2020 | Boys | 80 | #1,849 |
| 2019 | Girls | 133 | #1,598 |
| 2019 | Boys | 87 | #1,777 |
| 2018 | Girls | 151 | #1,451 |
| 2018 | Boys | 106 | #1,576 |
| 2017 | Girls | 175 | #1,331 |
| 2017 | Boys | 105 | #1,554 |
| 2016 | Girls | 155 | #1,480 |
| 2016 | Boys | 78 | #1,890 |
| 2015 | Girls | 81 | #2,294 |
| 2015 | Boys | 71 | #2,019 |
| 2014 | Girls | 87 | #2,176 |
| 2014 | Boys | 65 | #2,116 |
When Was Merritt 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.
2025 · Girls
401 recorded births
National rank #703
2017 · Girls
175 recorded births
National rank #1,331
2024 · Girls
159 recorded births
National rank #1,406
2016 · Girls
155 recorded births
National rank #1,480
Where Merritt 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 |
|---|---|---|
| NE | #78 | 24 |
| TN | #191 | 40 |
| MS | #270 | 10 |
| NC | #280 | 39 |
| AL | #283 | 17 |
| KY | #286 | 15 |
| AR | #301 | 10 |
| LA | #394 | 11 |
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NE | #335 | 7 |