Given name & surname
Merrill
“of the shining sea”
Merrill is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “of the shining sea.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “of the shining sea.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
It entered given-name use through an existing surname.
The story
Its naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Merrill through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 15,065
- 12,988 boys · 2,077 girls
- Most popular year
- 1926
- 321 babies
- 2025
- 22
- #6,333 for boys · #11,580 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −18%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 51% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,333 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was virtually unchanged in 2021–2025 compared with 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 305 in 1926. It also appeared in 8 birth records for girls in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,383 as a first name in 2020; 31,507 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.
Merrill’s family of names
In English usage, Merrill has a related form in Muriel. Merrill has a related form in Meryl. Merrill has a related form in Merrell.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Murielvariant · English
- Merylvariant
- Merelvariant
- Merrylvariant
- Meryllvariant
- Merrilvariant
- Merrellvariant
- Merrelvariant
Show 4 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Merrill
- PeachesCanadian electroclash musicianborn 1966
- Merrill MosesAmerican water polo player and coachborn 1977
- Merrill CookUnited States Congressman from Utah1946–2026
- Merrill McPeakUnited States Air Force generalborn 1936
- Merrill McCormickactor (1892-1953)
- Merrill KellyAmerican baseball playerborn 1988
- Merrill OsmondAmerican musicianborn 1953
- Merrill MooreAmerican musician (1923–2000)
- Merrill JensenAmerican historian (1905-1980)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Merrill, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Sidney
“from the wide meadow”
49% boys · 51% girls
Marvel
“an extraordinary woman” · “an extraordinary man”
48% boys · 52% girls
Merlyn
Merlyn is a variant of Merlin. One Welsh interpretation is “of the sea fortress; in Arthurian legend, the wizard and mentor of King Arthur.”
31% boys · 69% girls
Marcelle
“the little warrior” · “dedicated to Mars, the god of war”
26% boys · 74% girls
Carmel
“garden” · “of the fruitful orchard”
28% boys · 72% girls
Marion
“a manly man”
34% boys · 66% girls
Everette
“as strong as a boar; as brave as a boar”
73% boys · 27% girls
Trinidad
“trinity”
68% boys · 32% girls