Merritt

English surname name
"boundary gate"

Merritt Origin and Meaning

The name Merritt is a girl's name meaning "boundary gate".

Merritt has a long and distinguished history as a surname; the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut and the Merritt Building testify to that. But it wasn't until Emmy-winning actress Merritt Wever came along that we gave it much thought as a girls' name. And we aren't alone. It's grown tremendously in popularity since the premiere of Nurse Jackie, in which Wever played a key role. More than 100 baby girls a year are now named Merritt in the U.S.

Part of the name's considerable appeal may stem from its kinship to the word "merit," making it a modern spin on virtue names like Honor and Grace.

Fun fact about Merritt Wever: She was born Siobhan, another Nameberry favorite name. Merritt is technically her middle name.

Popularity of the name Merritt

20 Names Similar to Merritt

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Merritt.

Famous People Named Merritt

  • Merritt Elizabeth Mathias
    American soccer player

The name Merritt in Pop Culture

  • Merritt Monaco
    character on the tv show “The Perfect Couple”

The name Merritt in Nameberry Blog Posts