Merrilee: 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	–	–	–	–
1920s	27	3	–	#2,767
1930s	62	6	+130%	#2,205
1940s	567	57	+815%	#883
1950s	578	58	+2%	#1,169
1960s	301	30	-48%	#1,781
1970s	203	20	-33%	#2,089
1980s	88	9	-57%	#4,277
1990s	24	2	-73%	#11,061
2000s	11	1	-54%	#16,891
2010s	5	1	-55%	#17,203
2020s (to 2025)	5	1	+67%	#16,805

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

#2,767

1930s

+130%

#2,205

1940s

567

+815%

#883

1950s

578

+2%

#1,169

1960s

301

-48%

#1,781

1970s

203

-33%

#2,089

1980s

-57%

#4,277

1990s

-73%

#11,061

2000s

-54%

#16,891

2010s

-55%

#17,203

2020s (to 2025)

+67%

#16,805

The story of Merrilee

Merrilee 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 1923, 1,871 American babies have been named Merrilee. Its peak came in 1942, when 78 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 Merrilee stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Merrilee?

The median living Merrilee is about 68 years old; half are between 57 and 76. An estimated 1,500 people named Merrilee 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.

Merrilee 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	5	#16,805
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	5	#17,203
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	6	#16,891
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	5	#17,220
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	5	#14,949
1990	–	–
1985	7	#8,932
1980	14	#5,138
1975	16	#4,067
1970	37	#2,186
1965	24	#2,514
1960	41	#1,781
1955	64	#1,267
1950	42	#1,425
1945	44	#1,204
1940	15	#2,179
1935	6	#4,077
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Merrilee?

The median living Merrilee is about 68 years old. Half of all living Merrilees are between 57 and 76 years old.

How many people named Merrilee are alive today?

An estimated 1,500 people named Merrilee are alive in the United States, based on 1,871 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Merrilee in 2025?

Merrilee 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 Merrilee?

1,871 babies have been named Merrilee in the United States since 1923, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Merrilee most popular?

Merrilee peaked in 1942, when 78 newborns received the name.

Is Merrilee a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Merrilee rising or falling?

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

Merrilee

Merrilee popularity over time

The story of Merrilee

How old are people named Merrilee?

Merrilee year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Merrilee