Given name & surname · also English
Merritt
“from the boundary's gate”·“one who deserves good fortune”
Merritt is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “from the boundary's gate” and “one who deserves good fortune”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “from the boundary's gate” and “one who deserves good fortune”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with English and Latin naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Merritt through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,382
- 6,151 boys · 3,231 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 518 babies
- 2025
- 518
- #703 for girls · #1,505 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +16%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 34% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 401 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 703 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 27.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 117 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (55). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,797 as a first name in 2020; 43,857 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.
Merritt’s family of names
Merritt has a related form in Merit. Merritt has a related form in Merrit. Merritt has a related form in Meritt.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Meritvariant
- Merritvariant · English
- Merittvariant
- Meretvariant
- Meryttvariant
- Merrytvariant
- Merytvariant
- Merryttvariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Merritt
- Merritt WeverAmerican actressborn 1980
- Merritt ButrickAmerican actor (1959-1989)
- Merritt Lyndon FernaldAmerican botanist (1873-1950)
- Merritt PattersonCanadian actressborn 1990
- Merritt A. EdsonMarine Corps Medal of Honor recipient (1897-1955)
- Merritt B. GerstadAmerican cinematographer (1900–1974)
- Merritt C. MechemAmerican politician (1870–1946)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Merritt, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Aris
“the best” · “one who is superior”
59% boys · 41% girls
Arden
“one who is passionate and enthusiastic” · “from the valley of the eagles”
40% boys · 60% girls
Winslow
“from a friend's hill”
29% boys · 71% girls
Gentry
“woman with a high social standing” · “of good breeding; holding a high social standing”
52% boys · 48% girls
Lennon
“daughter of love” · “son of love”
26% boys · 74% girls
Sutton
“from the southern town”
33% boys · 67% girls
Hartford
“from the stag's ford”
50% boys · 50% girls
Landry
“of the rough terrain”
43% boys · 57% girls