Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1924

Merced

Gender Unisex · 19% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Merced
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1924
23 babies
All-time total
945
#6,066 all-time among boys
First recorded
1905
in Social Security records

Merced popularity over time

945 babies have been named Merced since 1905, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.030.040.0518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – 6 6 1 – #1,189
1910s 10 58 68 7 +1033% #2,034
1920s 79 82 161 16 +137% #2,483
1930s 17 83 100 10 -38% #2,022
1940s 6 84 90 9 -10% #1,662
1950s 10 86 96 10 +7% #1,813
1960s 7 62 69 7 -28% #2,494
1970s 5 73 78 8 +13% #3,361
1980s 18 75 93 9 +19% #4,130
1990s 24 79 103 10 +11% #5,013
2000s – 52 52 5 -50% #5,489
2010s 5 17 22 2 -58% #11,689
2020s (to 2025) – 7 7 1 -47% #10,418

The story of Merced

Merced is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1905, 945 American babies have been named Merced, about 81% boys and 19% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1924, when 23 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Merced stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Merced?

The median living Merced is about 45 years old; half are between 32 and 66. An estimated 500 people named Merced are alive in the United States today.

median 45 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Merced year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – 7 #10,418
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – 5 #13,536
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – 6 #11,689
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 5 #18,925 6 #11,712
2009 – – – –
2008 – – 9 #8,776
2007 – – 8 #9,455
2006 – – – –
2005 – – 6 #11,018
2004 – – – –
2003 – – 8 #8,360
2002 – – 8 #8,192
2001 – – – –
2000 – – 13 #5,489
1995 – – 7 #7,527
1990 8 #9,841 6 #7,770
1985 – – 6 #6,257
1980 6 #9,878 – –
1975 – – 8 #4,175
1970 – – 8 #3,724
1965 – – 5 #4,262
1960 – – 9 #3,011
1955 – – 5 #4,204
1950 – – 10 #2,529
1945 – – 14 #1,902
1940 – – 14 #1,954
1935 – – 7 #3,155
1930 6 #4,391 15 #2,034
1925 5 #5,524 10 #2,868
1920 10 #3,273 – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – 6 #1,189
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Merced, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Merced?

The median living Merced is about 45 years old. Half of all living Merceds are between 32 and 66 years old.

How many people named Merced are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Merced are alive in the United States, based on 945 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Merced in 2025?

Merced did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Merced?

945 babies have been named Merced in the United States since 1905, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Merced most popular?

Merced peaked in 1924, when 23 newborns received the name.

Is Merced a boy or girl name?

Merced is used for both: about 19% of babies named Merced have been girls and 81% boys.

Is the name Merced rising or falling?

Merced is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Merced

Names that sound and feel close to Merced: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Merced with similar names → More names starting with M →