Merritt

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.

Pronounced MER-it.

As of October 2026, Merritt ranked #703 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #389.