Merry: 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	5	1	–	#1,872
1900s	30	3	+500%	#1,704
1910s	209	21	+597%	#1,049
1920s	495	50	+137%	#911
1930s	661	66	+34%	#670
1940s	2,246	225	+240%	#456
1950s	2,972	297	+32%	#470
1960s	1,833	183	-38%	#603
1970s	698	70	-62%	#1,005
1980s	436	44	-38%	#1,787
1990s	293	29	-33%	#2,823
2000s	200	20	-32%	#4,576
2010s	206	21	+3%	#4,494
2020s (to 2025)	85	14	-31%	#6,826

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

#1,872

1900s

+500%

#1,704

1910s

209

+597%

#1,049

1920s

495

+137%

#911

1930s

661

+34%

#670

1940s

2,246

225

+240%

#456

1950s

2,972

297

+32%

#470

1960s

1,833

183

-38%

#603

1970s

698

-62%

#1,005

1980s

436

-38%

#1,787

1990s

293

-33%

#2,823

2000s

200

-32%

#4,576

2010s

206

+3%

#4,494

2020s (to 2025)

-31%

#6,826

The story of Merry

Merry is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #10,634 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1898, 10,369 American babies have been named Merry. Its peak came in 1954, when 355 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

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 Merry stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Merry?

The median living Merry is about 67 years old; half are between 56 and 74. An estimated 7,600 people named Merry 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.

Merry year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	9	#10,634
2024	16	#7,146
2023	10	#10,096
2022	16	#7,187
2021	17	#6,883
2020	17	#6,826
2019	17	#6,938
2018	19	#6,428
2017	14	#8,144
2016	32	#4,494
2015	24	#5,606
2014	22	#5,921
2013	23	#5,776
2012	18	#7,064
2011	15	#8,072
2010	22	#6,110
2009	18	#7,251
2008	23	#6,078
2007	14	#8,858
2006	20	#6,525
2005	22	#5,723
2004	30	#4,576
2003	19	#6,233
2002	17	#6,593
2001	13	#8,045
2000	24	#4,924
1995	31	#3,555
1990	34	#3,269
1985	52	#2,063
1980	45	#2,235
1975	59	#1,649
1970	125	#1,005
1965	163	#778
1960	274	#603
1955	334	#505
1950	292	#474
1945	214	#500
1940	124	#634
1935	65	#859
1930	40	#1,191
1925	47	#1,132
1920	61	#936
1915	18	#1,855
1910	6	#2,320
1905	5	#2,139
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Merry?

The median living Merry is about 67 years old. Half of all living Merrys are between 56 and 74 years old.

How many people named Merry are alive today?

An estimated 7,600 people named Merry are alive in the United States, based on 10,369 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Merry mean?

A female given name from merry.

How popular is the name Merry in 2025?

Merry ranked #10,634 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Merry?

10,369 babies have been named Merry in the United States since 1898, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Merry most popular?

Merry peaked in 1954, when 355 newborns received the name.

Is Merry a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Merry rising or falling?

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

Merry

Merry popularity over time

The story of Merry

How old are people named Merry?

Merry year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Merry