Girls' name · since 1897
Meriam
Since 1897, U.S. Social Security records show 1,391 babies named Meriam, peaking in 1923. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #5,993 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,391
- born since 1897
- 1920s
- peak decade
Meriam sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 1,391 recorded since 1897.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Meriam has been recorded 1,391 times among girls since 1897, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1897 to 2024.
- #5,993 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 1,391 born since 1897
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Meriam ranks #5,993 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,391 born since 1897, peaking in the 1920s.
- #5,993 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,391
- born since 1897
- 1920s
- peak decade
Meriam's 1,391 recorded births place it above 91.71% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 5 jurisdictions, led by Pennsylvania.
Meriam's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Meriam's full recorded timeline at 1962, 42% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 58% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1897, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1923 peak of 35 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Meriam popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1897–2024
- Peak year (1923)
- 35
- Annual births at peak, across 128 years of records
Meriam by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (281 births, 20% of the file).
1920s was Meriam's strongest decade.
281 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Meriam births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1900s 15
1900s
15 births
- 1910s
1910s
139 births
- 1920s
1920s
281 births
- 1930s
1930s
147 births
- 1940s
1940s
122 births
- 1950s 83
1950s
83 births
- 1960s 54
1960s
54 births
- 1970s 39
1970s
39 births
- 1980s 64
1980s
64 births
- 1990s 88
1990s
88 births
- 2000s
2000s
160 births
- 2010s
2010s
146 births
- 2020s 48
2020s
48 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 281 births (20% of all-time use).
How Meriam compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Meriam's total volume
Meriam by state
Where Meriam concentrates geographically, total births since 1897
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 82 | 5.9% |
| #2 | Ohio | | 12 | 0.9% |
| #3 | Alabama | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #4 | Indiana | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #5 | New York | | 5 | 0.4% |
82 of 1,391 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Meriam? ▼
Where does Meriam sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Meriam most popular? ▼
Where is Meriam most popular? ▼
How long has the name Meriam been used? ▼
What names are similar to Meriam? ▼
What to do with Meriam's data
- Meriam's decade-level peak was the 1920s (281 total births); usage has since declined to 48 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Meriams (82 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 Meriam
Nearby Names Like Meriam
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Meriam
Compare Meriam side by side: Meriam vs Meredith Meriam vs Mercedes Meriam vs Merle
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Meriam: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1923)
Similar record span (~127 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, 1897–2024 (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 Meriam 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.