Merle
A male given name transferred from the surname.
Every Merle since 1880 — 45,389 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Merle
Merle is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,485 in 2025 with 33 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 45,389 American babies have been named Merle — about 68% boys and 32% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1921, when 1,275 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
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 Merle stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Merle year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #16,474 | 33 | #3,485 |
| 2024 | — | — | 22 | #4,654 |
| 2023 | — | — | 40 | #3,098 |
| 2022 | — | — | 27 | #4,059 |
| 2021 | — | — | 22 | #4,589 |
| 2020 | — | — | 33 | #3,388 |
| 2019 | — | — | 22 | #4,589 |
| 2018 | — | — | 23 | #4,443 |
| 2017 | — | — | 20 | #4,874 |
| 2016 | — | — | 14 | #6,234 |
| 2015 | — | — | 21 | #4,653 |
| 2014 | — | — | 15 | #5,902 |
| 2013 | — | — | 16 | #5,556 |
| 2012 | — | — | 9 | #8,639 |
| 2011 | — | — | 18 | #5,122 |
| 2010 | — | — | 22 | #4,466 |
| 2009 | — | — | 22 | #4,534 |
| 2008 | — | — | 19 | #5,005 |
| 2007 | — | — | 17 | #5,351 |
| 2006 | — | — | 26 | #3,860 |
| 2005 | — | — | 18 | #4,765 |
| 2004 | 5 | #17,897 | 21 | #4,210 |
| 2003 | 5 | #17,471 | 22 | #3,922 |
| 2002 | — | — | 13 | #5,621 |
| 2001 | — | — | 30 | #3,038 |
| 2000 | — | — | 26 | #3,267 |
| 1995 | 6 | #12,791 | 35 | #2,279 |
| 1990 | — | — | 33 | #2,197 |
| 1985 | — | — | 49 | #1,406 |
| 1980 | 5 | #11,496 | 59 | #1,196 |
| 1975 | 8 | #6,898 | 73 | #963 |
| 1970 | 18 | #3,524 | 131 | #720 |
| 1965 | 24 | #2,513 | 159 | #608 |
| 1960 | 62 | #1,398 | 176 | #590 |
| 1955 | 115 | #919 | 289 | #431 |
| 1950 | 141 | #721 | 395 | #339 |
| 1945 | 205 | #512 | 373 | #307 |
| 1940 | 237 | #443 | 467 | #254 |
| 1935 | 270 | #390 | 521 | #226 |
| 1930 | 237 | #437 | 711 | #196 |
| 1925 | 404 | #333 | 836 | #175 |
| 1920 | 403 | #324 | 819 | #171 |
| 1915 | 353 | #315 | 595 | #186 |
| 1910 | 138 | #334 | 100 | #235 |
| 1905 | 110 | #322 | 59 | #256 |
| 1900 | 113 | #315 | 54 | #283 |
| 1895 | 91 | #303 | 46 | #265 |
| 1890 | 68 | #307 | 26 | #346 |
| 1885 | 16 | #551 | 26 | #337 |
| 1880 | 6 | #810 | 17 | #437 |
Famous people named Merle
- Merle Oberon Actor · 1911–1979
- Merle Haggard Singer · 1937–2016
- Merle Travis Musician · 1917–1983
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Merle mean?
A male given name transferred from the surname.
How popular is the name Merle in 2025?
Merle ranked #3,485 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 33 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Merle?
45,389 babies have been named Merle in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Merle most popular?
Merle peaked in 1921, when 1,275 newborns received the name.
Is Merle a boy or girl name?
Merle is used for both: about 32% of babies named Merle have been girls and 68% boys.
Is the name Merle rising or falling?
Merle is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Merle?
Well-known people named Merle include Merle Oberon (actor), Merle Haggard (singer), Merle Travis (musician).