Merla
Every Merla since 1908 — 424 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Merla
Merla 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 1908, 424 American babies have been named Merla. Its peak came in 1949, when 16 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
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 Merla stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Merla 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 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | 6 | #6,158 |
| 1955 | 9 | #4,282 |
| 1950 | 11 | #3,362 |
| 1945 | 14 | #2,414 |
| 1940 | 8 | #3,418 |
| 1935 | 14 | #2,270 |
| 1930 | 9 | #3,245 |
| 1925 | 10 | #3,290 |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | 6 | #4,088 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Merla in 2025?
Merla 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 Merla?
424 babies have been named Merla in the United States since 1908, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Merla most popular?
Merla peaked in 1949, when 16 newborns received the name.
Is Merla a boy or girl name?
Merla is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Merla rising or falling?
Merla has been roughly stable over the past decade.