Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1955

Merita

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Merita
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1955
46 babies
All-time total
1,121
#6,928 all-time among girls
First recorded
1912
in Social Security records

Merita popularity over time

1,121 babies have been named Merita since 1912, 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
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1940Girls

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 22 2 – #3,286
1920s 89 9 +305% #2,350
1930s 176 18 +98% #1,525
1940s 226 23 +28% #1,459
1950s 302 30 +34% #1,506
1960s 159 16 -47% #2,582
1970s 64 6 -60% #3,817
1980s 37 4 -42% #7,882
1990s 46 5 +24% #9,543
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Merita

Merita 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 1912, 1,121 American babies have been named Merita. Its peak came in 1955, when 46 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

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

How old are people named Merita?

The median living Merita is about 69 years old; half are between 59 and 76. An estimated 700 people named Merita are alive in the United States today.

median 69 020406080100

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

Merita 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 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 7 #11,322
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 7 #8,733
1975 – –
1970 16 #3,817
1965 15 #3,367
1960 17 #3,069
1955 46 #1,506
1950 26 #1,895
1945 13 #2,558
1940 28 #1,459
1935 18 #1,892
1930 20 #1,850
1925 10 #3,289
1920 6 #4,775
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Merita?

The median living Merita is about 69 years old. Half of all living Meritas are between 59 and 76 years old.

How many people named Merita are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Merita are alive in the United States, based on 1,121 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Merita in 2025?

Merita 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 Merita?

1,121 babies have been named Merita in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Merita most popular?

Merita peaked in 1955, when 46 newborns received the name.

Is Merita a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Merita rising or falling?

Merita has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Merita

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

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