Meri: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	11	1	–	#4,623
1920s	20	2	+82%	#4,269
1930s	15	2	-25%	#4,709
1940s	265	27	+1667%	#1,252
1950s	543	54	+105%	#1,161
1960s	644	64	+19%	#1,172
1970s	379	38	-41%	#1,591
1980s	180	18	-53%	#3,208
1990s	157	16	-13%	#4,013
2000s	133	13	-15%	#4,923
2010s	91	9	-32%	#7,689
2020s (to 2025)	64	11	+17%	#7,892

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#4,623

1920s

+82%

#4,269

1930s

-25%

#4,709

1940s

265

+1667%

#1,252

1950s

543

+105%

#1,161

1960s

644

+19%

#1,172

1970s

379

-41%

#1,591

1980s

180

-53%

#3,208

1990s

157

-13%

#4,013

2000s

133

-15%

#4,923

2010s

-32%

#7,689

2020s (to 2025)

+17%

#7,892

The story of Meri

Meri is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #10,632 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1917, 2,502 American babies have been named Meri. Its peak came in 1961, when 89 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Meri stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Meri?

The median living Meri is about 58 years old; half are between 42 and 67. An estimated 2,200 people named Meri are alive in the United States today.

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

Meri year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	9	#10,632
2024	13	#8,280
2023	13	#8,343
2022	7	#13,131
2021	14	#7,892
2020	8	#11,787
2019	10	#10,237
2018	11	#9,607
2017	5	#17,582
2016	13	#8,714
2015	8	#12,628
2014	8	#12,707
2013	7	#14,148
2012	16	#7,689
2011	8	#12,980
2010	5	#18,927
2009	7	#14,714
2008	7	#14,876
2007	14	#8,856
2006	10	#11,163
2005	14	#8,199
2004	15	#7,698
2003	11	#9,487
2002	17	#6,591
2001	14	#7,602
2000	24	#4,923
1995	24	#4,307
1990	16	#5,738
1985	16	#4,785
1980	17	#4,445
1975	33	#2,442
1970	60	#1,591
1965	62	#1,401
1960	78	#1,244
1955	74	#1,161
1950	44	#1,390
1945	31	#1,472
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	7	#4,269
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Meri?

The median living Meri is about 58 years old. Half of all living Meris are between 42 and 67 years old.

How many people named Meri are alive today?

An estimated 2,200 people named Meri are alive in the United States, based on 2,502 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Meri mean?

A diminutive of the female given name Merida.

How popular is the name Meri in 2025?

Meri ranked #10,632 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Meri?

2,502 babies have been named Meri in the United States since 1917, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Meri most popular?

Meri peaked in 1961, when 89 newborns received the name.

Is Meri a boy or girl name?

Meri is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Meri rising or falling?

Meri is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Meri

Meri popularity over time

The story of Meri

How old are people named Meri?

Meri year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Meri