Unisex name · since 1894
Mearl
Since 1894, U.S. Social Security records show 1,210 babies named Mearl, peaking in 1920. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #4,561 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,210
- born since 1894
- 1920s
- peak decade
1,210 boys have been named Mearl since 1894, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Mearl has 1,210 recorded births among boys since 1894, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1894 to 1977.
- #4,561 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 1,210 born since 1894
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Mearl ranks #4,561 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,210 born since 1894, peaking in the 1920s.
- #4,561 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,210
- born since 1894
- 1920s
- peak decade
Mearl's 1,210 recorded births place it above 89.97% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
8 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Pennsylvania.
Mearl's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Mearl splits its recorded history at 1936: 40% of all births land in the more recent half, 60% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1902 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1920 peak of 38 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Mearl popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1894–1977
- Peak year (1920)
- 38
- Annual births at peak, across 84 years of records
Mearl popularity over time - girls
428 total births recorded since 1893 (Mearl as girls' name)
Mearl by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (296 births, 24% of the file).
1920s was Mearl's strongest decade.
296 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 24% of all-time use.
Mearl births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 7
1890s
7 births
- 1900s 66
1900s
66 births
- 1910s
1910s
222 births
- 1920s
1920s
296 births
- 1930s
1930s
215 births
- 1940s
1940s
187 births
- 1950s
1950s
128 births
- 1960s 70
1960s
70 births
- 1970s 19
1970s
19 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 296 births (24% of all-time use).
How Mearl compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Mearl's total volume
Mearl by state
Where Mearl concentrates geographically, total births since 1894
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 37 | 3.1% |
| #2 | Iowa | | 10 | 0.8% |
| #3 | Indiana | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #4 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #5 | Missouri | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #7 | Oklahoma | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #8 | Texas | | 5 | 0.4% |
37 of 1,210 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Mearl's data
- Mearl's decade-level peak was the 1920s (296 total births); usage has since declined to 19 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Mearls (37 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Mearl
Nearby Names Like Mearl
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Mearl
Compare Mearl side by side: Mearl vs Meade Mearl vs Mead Mearl vs Mearle
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Mearl: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1920)
Similar record span (~83 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1894–1977 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Mearl draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.