Given name & surname
Merna
“one who is much loved”
Merna is a variant of Myrna. One interpretation is “one who is much loved.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Merna is a variant of Myrna. One interpretation is “one who is much loved.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1895. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Merna through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,461
- 0 boys · 2,461 girls
- Most popular year
- 1930
- 79 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −31%
- Easing
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 8 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 79 in 1930. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,964 as a first name in 2020; 243 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.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Merna, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Melvina
“one who holds the rank of chief”
>99% girls
Melba
“from the city of Melbourne”
>99% girls
Erlene
“bearing a powerful shield”
>99% girls
Mardell
4% boys · 96% girls
Erna
“one who is determined; serious” · “one who is sincere and determined; serious”
>99% girls
Emmer
“grain”
1% boys · 99% girls
Enedina
“one who is praised”
>99% girls
Belia
“a woman famed for her beauty”
>99% girls