Total births
1,150
Girls' name · since 1929
Merilee
Since 1929, U.S. Social Security records show 1,150 babies named Merilee, peaking in 1961. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,150
- total births
- 1929–2014
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
1,150 girls have been named Merilee since 1929, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Merilee recorded 1,150 times among girls since 1929, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1950s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1929 to 2014.
- 1,150 total births
- 1929–2014 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 30% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,150 girls have been named Merilee since 1929, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 2014.
- 1,150
- total births
- 1929–2014
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
30% of everyone ever named Merilee was born in this single decade.
1961
Single peak year
54 babies were named Merilee in 1961 - its busiest year on record.
Merilee's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Merilee splits its recorded history at 1963: 35% of all births land in the more recent half, 65% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1939 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1961 peak of 54 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Merilee at a glance
Last recorded 2014Peak year
1961
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1929
Merilee popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1929–2014
- Peak year (1961)
- 54
- Annual births at peak, across 86 years of records
Merilee by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Merilee's strongest decade.
340 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 30% of all-time use.
Merilee births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 6
1920s
6 births
- 1930s 28
1930s
28 births
- 1940s
1940s
252 births
- 1950s
1950s
340 births
- 1960s
1960s
254 births
- 1970s
1970s
169 births
- 1980s 91
1980s
91 births
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
- 2010s 5
2010s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 340 births (30% of all-time use).
How Merilee 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 Merilee's total volume
Merilee vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Merilee by state
Where Merilee concentrates geographically, total births since 1929
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 107 | 9.3% |
| #2 | New York | | 16 | 1.4% |
| #3 | Utah | | 13 | 1.1% |
| #4 | Washington | | 10 | 0.9% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Minnesota | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #7 | Oregon | | 5 | 0.4% |
California share of Merilee's total US births 9.3%
Even split
107 of 1,150 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Merilee? ▼
Merilee has been given to 1,150 babies in the U.S. since 1929, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2014. 54 babies were born in 1961, its single highest year.
When was Merilee most popular? ▼
Merilee was most popular in the 1950s decade with 340 total births. The single peak year was 1961.
Where is Merilee most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Merilee are California (107 births), New York (16 births), Utah (13 births).
How long has the name Merilee been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Merilee since 1929 -- 86 years through the most recent 2014 data.
What names are similar to Merilee? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Meredith, Mercedes, Merle, Mercy, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Merilee's data
- Merilee's decade-level peak was the 1950s (340 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Merilees (107 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Merilee
Nearby Names Like Merilee
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merilee
Meredith Girl
#492 77,787 births
Mercedes Girl
#1446 46,206 births
Merle Girl
14,723 births
Mercy Girl
#845 10,632 births
Merry Girl
#6942 10,369 births
Compare Merilee side by side: Merilee vs Meredith Merilee vs Mercedes Merilee vs Merle
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1929–2014 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Merilee: Baby Name Since 1929 - 1,150 Births, Peak 1961." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merilee. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 Merilee 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 July 2026.