Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1949

Merla

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Merla
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1949
16 babies
All-time total
424
#13,046 all-time among girls
First recorded
1908
in Social Security records

Merla popularity over time

424 babies have been named Merla since 1908, 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
0.010.010.020.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1908Girls

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 6 1 – #2,026
1910s 19 2 +217% #3,804
1920s 59 6 +211% #2,684
1930s 107 11 +81% #2,270
1940s 116 12 +8% #2,378
1950s 90 9 -22% #3,059
1960s 27 3 -70% #4,781
1970s – – – –
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

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.

How old are people named Merla?

The median living Merla is about 76 years old; half are between 70 and 82. An estimated 200 people named Merla are alive in the United States today.

median 76 020406080100

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

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

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

How old is the average Merla?

The median living Merla is about 76 years old. Half of all living Merlas are between 70 and 82 years old.

How many people named Merla are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Merla are alive in the United States, based on 424 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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.

Names like Merla

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

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