Meriel: 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	19	2	–	#3,177
1920s	36	4	+89%	#3,073
1930s	45	5	+25%	#2,146
1940s	26	3	-42%	#3,580
1950s	26	3	0%	#4,265
1960s	10	1	-62%	#7,187
1970s	5	1	-50%	#9,117
1980s	41	4	+720%	#5,772
1990s	61	6	+49%	#8,605
2000s	82	8	+34%	#7,697
2010s	25	3	-70%	#8,803
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#3,177

1920s

+89%

#3,073

1930s

+25%

#2,146

1940s

-42%

#3,580

1950s

#4,265

1960s

-62%

#7,187

1970s

-50%

#9,117

1980s

+720%

#5,772

1990s

+49%

#8,605

2000s

+34%

#7,697

2010s

-70%

#8,803

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Meriel

Meriel 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 1916, 376 American babies have been named Meriel. Its peak came in 1934, when 15 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

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

How old are people named Meriel?

The median living Meriel is about 30 years old; half are between 21 and 44. An estimated 300 people named Meriel 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.

Meriel year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	13	#8,803
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	6	#16,131
2010	6	#16,304
2009	10	#11,224
2008	10	#11,325
2007	–	–
2006	9	#12,080
2005	9	#11,525
2004	8	#12,372
2003	–	–
2002	14	#7,697
2001	13	#8,043
2000	9	#10,450
1995	9	#9,269
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	5	#7,187
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	6	#5,103
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	7	#3,647
1930	–	–
1925	7	#4,303
1920	7	#4,270
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Meriel?

The median living Meriel is about 30 years old. Half of all living Meriels are between 21 and 44 years old.

How many people named Meriel are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Meriel are alive in the United States, based on 376 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Meriel in 2025?

Meriel 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 Meriel?

376 babies have been named Meriel in the United States since 1916, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Meriel most popular?

Meriel peaked in 1934, when 15 newborns received the name.

Is Meriel a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Meriel rising or falling?

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

Meriel

Meriel popularity over time

The story of Meriel

How old are people named Meriel?

Meriel year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Meriel