Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1930

Merna

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Merna
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1930
79 babies
All-time total
2,461
#4,092 all-time among girls
First recorded
1895
in Social Security records

Merna popularity over time

2,461 babies have been named Merna since 1895, 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
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1930Girls

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 27 3 – #1,234
1900s 78 8 +189% #960
1910s 323 32 +314% #969
1920s 525 53 +63% #820
1930s 582 58 +11% #799
1940s 317 32 -46% #1,006
1950s 214 21 -32% #1,870
1960s 100 10 -53% #2,699
1970s 18 2 -82% #7,391
1980s 7 1 -61% #8,850
1990s 43 4 +514% #9,271
2000s 88 9 +105% #7,462
2010s 87 9 -1% #8,143
2020s (to 2025) 52 9 0% #7,831

The story of Merna

Merna 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 1895, 2,461 American babies have been named Merna. Its peak came in 1930, when 79 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 Merna stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Merna?

The median living Merna is about 70 years old; half are between 28 and 83. An estimated 900 people named Merna are alive in the United States today.

median 70 020406080100

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

Merna 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 8 #11,800
2023 7 #13,018
2022 12 #8,869
2021 11 #9,358
2020 14 #7,831
2019 8 #12,076
2018 6 #15,039
2017 14 #8,143
2016 13 #8,715
2015 11 #9,937
2014 9 #11,638
2013 8 #12,778
2012 8 #13,046
2011 10 #10,925
2010 – –
2009 10 #11,226
2008 7 #14,879
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 10 #10,666
2004 6 #15,427
2003 15 #7,462
2002 14 #7,699
2001 13 #8,044
2000 13 #7,882
1995 9 #9,271
1990 7 #10,968
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 9 #4,720
1960 21 #2,699
1955 26 #2,144
1950 22 #2,102
1945 28 #1,564
1940 51 #1,006
1935 57 #922
1930 79 #799
1925 40 #1,245
1920 49 #1,070
1915 36 #1,149
1910 14 #1,255
1905 – –
1900 7 #1,683
1895 5 #1,747
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Merna

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Merna Kennedy Merna Kennedy American actress 1908–1944 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Merna?

The median living Merna is about 70 years old. Half of all living Mernas are between 28 and 83 years old.

How many people named Merna are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Merna are alive in the United States, based on 2,461 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Merna in 2025?

Merna 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 Merna?

2,461 babies have been named Merna in the United States since 1895, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Merna most popular?

Merna peaked in 1930, when 79 newborns received the name.

Is Merna a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Merna rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Merna?

Well-known people named Merna include Merna Kennedy (actor).

Names like Merna

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

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