Given name & surname
Meridith
“a great ruler; protector of the sea”
In English use, Meridith has a related form in Meredith. One Welsh interpretation is “a great ruler; protector of the sea.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Meridith has a related form in Meredith. One Welsh interpretation is “a great ruler; protector of the sea.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Meridith has a related form in Meredith. A possible origin is Welsh, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1917. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Meridith through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,684
- 32 boys · 2,652 girls
- Most popular year
- 1971
- 104 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 2021. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 104 in 1971. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,649 as a first name in 2020; 600 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Meridith’s family of names
In English usage, Meridith has a related form in Meredith.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Meridith, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Meredeth
“a great ruler; protector of the sea”
>99% girls
Melantha
“resembling a dark-violet flower”
>99% girls
Marne
“woman of the sea”
4% boys · 96% girls
Marni
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Zorica
“dawn”
>99% girls
Marybeth
“star of the sea” · “from the sea of bitterness”
>99% girls
Mlissa
“resembling a flower”
>99% girls
Toinette
In French use, Toinette carries the interpretation “priceless and highly praiseworthy; a flourishing flower.”
>99% girls