Merrill
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Merrill
Merrill, once fairly common for American boys back in the first half of the 20th-century, is now a rare choice, given to just 7 girls and 6 boys in a recent year. Alternative spelling Meryl is also rare, but it perhaps feels more familiar or up to date thanks to the actress Meryl Streep.
Merrill for girls#11580 US
A name with two origins, it may be considered a spin on the Irish name Muriel, giving it an ocean-inspired meaning, or it can be viewed as an English surname meaning "pleasant hill".
Chef Emeril Lagasse dropped the initial E from his name and called his daughter Meril.
Merrill for boys#6333 US
A once familiar name for boys in the US, Merrill ranked in the Top 1000 from the 1880s to the late 1960s, peaking in 1926 when it ranked at #331. Now, it is a rare choice, given to 7 girls and 6 boys in a recent count.
Merrill has two separate origins and may be viewed as a spin on the feminine name Muriel, ultimately from Old Irish and meaning "sea-bright". Or, it may be a habitational English surname, meaning "pleasant hill".
With its unisex sounds, its surname-y feel, and its nature-related meanings, could Merrill be one to reconsider? Could it work for fans of Merritt, Maverick, Miller, Marshall, and Maxwell? Time will tell.
Pronounced MER-ul.
As of October 2026, Merrill ranked #11580 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1240 in 1942.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
Similar names
These 40 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Merrill.
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Merrill on lists
Famous Merrills
- Merrill AshleyGirl
American ballerina
- Merrill MarkoeGirl
American TV comedy writer
- Merrill Beth Nisker aka PeachesGirl
Canadian electronic musician
Merrill in pop culture
- Merrill LynchGirl
American wealth management firm
- MerrillGirl
companion in the video game "Dragon Age II."
- MerrillGirl
first princess in "The Extraordinary Princess" by Carolyn Q. Ebbitt
- Merrill LynchBoy
wealth management company (now a branch of Bank of America)
- MerrillBoy
character in film Signs ("Swing away, Merrill, Swing away")
- Ace MerrillBoy
from the movie "Stand by Me" played by Kiefer Sutherland
- Merrill StubingBoy
character on TV's "The Love Boat"