Merriam: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	72	7	–	#2,625
1920s	96	10	+33%	#2,357
1930s	55	6	-43%	#2,676
1940s	64	6	+16%	#2,520
1950s	32	3	-50%	#5,230
1960s	5	1	-84%	#7,217
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	5	1	–	#16,024
2000s	11	1	+120%	#16,472
2010s	6	1	-45%	#15,041
2020s (to 2025)	5	1	+39%	#16,476

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#2,625

1920s

+33%

#2,357

1930s

-43%

#2,676

1940s

+16%

#2,520

1950s

-50%

#5,230

1960s

-84%

#7,217

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

#16,024

2000s

+120%

#16,472

2010s

-45%

#15,041

2020s (to 2025)

+39%

#16,476

The story of Merriam

Merriam is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #16,476 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1912, 351 American babies have been named Merriam. Its peak came in 1922, when 16 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 Merriam stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Merriam?

The median living Merriam is about 77 years old; half are between 64 and 82. An estimated 100 people named Merriam are alive in the United States today.

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

Merriam year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	5	#16,476
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	6	#15,041
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	6	#16,472
2005	5	#18,268
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	6	#5,639
1950	5	#5,849
1945	5	#5,027
1940	8	#3,419
1935	6	#4,076
1930	–	–
1925	9	#3,568
1920	5	#5,509
1915	8	#3,330
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Merriam?

The median living Merriam is about 77 years old. Half of all living Merriams are between 64 and 82 years old.

How many people named Merriam are alive today?

An estimated 100 people named Merriam are alive in the United States, based on 351 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Merriam in 2025?

Merriam ranked #16,476 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Merriam?

351 babies have been named Merriam in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Merriam most popular?

Merriam peaked in 1922, when 16 newborns received the name.

Is Merriam a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Merriam rising or falling?

Merriam is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Merriam

Merriam popularity over time

The story of Merriam

How old are people named Merriam?

Merriam year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Merriam