Girl & boy name
Merritt
Merritt holds the #703 spot on the 2025 list of the most popular girl names in the U.S. That amounts to 401 newborn girls in a single year. The name is on the way up, moving from #1524 in 2020 to #703 today. The name has never been bigger: its all-time peak in a record going back to 1919 is happening right now. The name's biggest fan base is in Nebraska (#78 there in 2025).
Rankings
Merritt popularity, 1880–2025
Where Merritt is most popular
Uniqueness score
Well known, but far from crowded — the middle of the field. Based on how many babies per birth were named Merritt in the most recent year of SSA data.
Similar names
Merritt as a boy name
Merritt is currently the #1499 boy name in the United States, based on 2025 Social Security data. In raw numbers: 117 babies. Here's the interesting part: Merritt peaked in 1899, faded, and is now climbing again — a classic comeback pattern. Looking at the full record since 1880, Merritt hit its all-time high of #394 in 1899, when 22 boys were given the name. State by state, Nebraska leads the way at #335.