Merritt
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About 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.
Merritt for girls#703 US
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.
Merritt for boys#1505 US
Merritt is an old-style surname name that could be seen as a positive virtue name. It was used in the late 19th and early 20th century for boys, reaching the Top 400 in 1899, and is notable today for being one of the names most evenly divided between boys and girls. Emmy winner Merritt Wever helped popularize it for girls.
Pronounced MER-it.
As of October 2026, Merritt ranked #703 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #304.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #2,190 | 87 | #2,133 | 65 |
| 2015 | #2,308 | 81 | #2,031 | 71 |
| 2016 | #1,481 | 155 | #1,898 | 78 |
| 2017 | #1,333 | 175 | #1,565 | 105 |
| 2018 | #1,458 | 151 | #1,581 | 106 |
| 2019 | #1,602 | 133 | #1,783 | 87 |
| 2020 | #1,531 | 139 | #1,860 | 80 |
| 2021 | #1,646 | 127 | #1,882 | 82 |
| 2022 | #1,543 | 139 | #1,977 | 78 |
| 2023 | #1,563 | 136 | #1,904 | 83 |
| 2024 | #1,409 | 158 | #1,899 | 84 |
| 2025 | #703 | 401 | #1,505 | 117 |
World rankings
Merritt for girls
Merritt for boys
Similar names
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Merritt on lists
Famous Merritts
- Merritt Elizabeth MathiasGirl
American soccer player
- Merritt ButrickBoy
American actor
- Merritt Austin EdsonBoy
U.S. Marine Corps General
- Merritt RuhlenBoy
American linguist
- Archer Thomas Merritt BrokawBoy
son of Sarah Brokaw
- Silas Merritt "Si" RobertsonBoy
American reality TV personality ("Duck Dynasty")
Merritt in pop culture
- Merritt MonacoGirl
character on the tv show “The Perfect Couple”
- MerrittBoy
a town in British Columbia
- Merritt McKinneyBoy
character in the movie "Now You See Me"