Total births
1,121
Girls' name · since 1912
Merita
Since 1912, U.S. Social Security records show 1,121 babies named Merita, peaking in 1955. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,121
- total births
- 1912–1999
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
Merita is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 1,121 have been recorded since 1912.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Merita has been recorded 1,121 times among girls since 1912, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1912 to 1999.
- 1,121 total births
- 1912–1999 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 27% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,121 girls have been named Merita since 1912, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 1999.
- 1,121
- total births
- 1912–1999
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Merita was born in this single decade.
1955
Single peak year
46 babies were named Merita in 1955 - its busiest year on record.
Merita's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Merita's full recorded timeline at 1953, 47% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 53% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1912, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1955 peak of 46 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Merita at a glance
Last recorded 1999Peak year
1955
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1912
Merita popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1912–1999
- Peak year (1955)
- 46
- Annual births at peak, across 88 years of records
Merita by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Merita's strongest decade.
302 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Merita births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 22
1910s
22 births
- 1920s 89
1920s
89 births
- 1930s
1930s
176 births
- 1940s
1940s
226 births
- 1950s
1950s
302 births
- 1960s
1960s
159 births
- 1970s 64
1970s
64 births
- 1980s 37
1980s
37 births
- 1990s 46
1990s
46 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 302 births (27% of all-time use).
How Merita 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 Merita's total volume
Merita vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Merita by state
Where Merita concentrates geographically, total births since 1912
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 50 | 4.5% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 36 | 3.2% |
| #3 | Alabama | | 13 | 1.2% |
| #4 | South Carolina | | 12 | 1.1% |
North Carolina share of Merita's total US births 4.5%
Even split
50 of 1,121 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Merita? ▼
Merita has been given to 1,121 babies in the U.S. since 1912, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1999. 46 babies were born in 1955, its single highest year.
When was Merita most popular? ▼
Merita was most popular in the 1950s decade with 302 total births. The single peak year was 1955.
Where is Merita most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Merita are North Carolina (50 births), Georgia (36 births), Alabama (13 births).
How long has the name Merita been used? ▼
Records for Merita go back to 1912, giving 88 years of history through 1999.
What names are similar to Merita? ▼
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 Merita's data
- Merita's decade-level peak was the 1950s (302 total births); usage has since declined to 46 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Meritas (50 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina 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 Merita
Nearby Names Like Merita
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merita
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 Merita side by side: Merita vs Meredith Merita vs Mercedes Merita vs Merle
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Catherin
1,121 births · Peak 1989
Ianna #4429
1,121 births · Peak 2011
Emaleigh #14100
1,121 births · Peak 2006
Camari #4082
1,121 births · Peak 2021
Dawsyn #3562
1,121 births · Peak 2017
Vallerie #12309
1,122 births · Peak 2009
Denim #2143
1,122 births · Peak 2025
Vaughn #7280
1,120 births · Peak 1931
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, 1912–1999 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Merita: Baby Name Since 1912 - 1,121 Births, Peak 1955." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merita. 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 Merita 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.