Given name & surname
Merton
“from the village near the pond”·“from the town near the lake”
Merton is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “from the village near the pond” (English) and “from the town near the lake” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “from the village near the pond” (English) and “from the town near the lake” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
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
Merton through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,247
- 4,247 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1920
- 150 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 boys is 5 in 1995. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 150 in 1920. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,054 as a first name in 2020; 475 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.
Merton’s family of names
Merton has a related form in Mertan. Merton has a related form in Merten. Merton has a related form in Mertin.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Murtonvariant
- Mertinvariant
- Mertenvariant
- Murtynvariant
- Murtifvariant
- Murtanvariant
- Murtenvariant
- Murtunvariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
People named Merton
- Merton MillerAmerican economist (1923–2000)
- Merton Beckwith-SmithBritish Army general (1890–1942)
- Merton E. DaviesAmerican astronomer (1917–2001)
- Merton E. LewisAmerican politician (1861–1937)
- Merton HanksAmerican football playerborn 1968
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Merton, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Melton
“from the mill town”
>99% boys
Morton
“from the town near the moor”
>99% boys
Malvin
“a leader” · “a friend who offers counsel”
>99% boys
Linton
“from the flax town”
>99% boys
Welton
“from the town near the well”
>99% boys
Milton
“from the mill town”
>99% boys
Elton
“a spontaneous woman” · “from the old town”
99% boys · 1% girls
Melville
“from the mill town”
99% boys · 1% girls