Total births
259
Boys' name · since 1908
Merrel
259 babies named Merrel in U.S. Social Security records since 1908, with the highest year being 1922. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 259
- total births
- 1908–1955
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that decade
Merrel sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 259 recorded since 1908.
Social Security Administration records show Merrel recorded 259 times among boys since 1908, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1908 to 1955.
- 259 total births
- 1908–1955 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 34% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
259 boys have been named Merrel since 1908, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1955.
- 259
- total births
- 1908–1955
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Merrel was born in this single decade.
1922
Single peak year
15 babies were named Merrel in 1922 - its busiest year on record.
Merrel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Merrel splits its recorded history at 1929: 44% of all births land in the more recent half, 56% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1918 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1922 peak of 15 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Merrel at a glance
Last recorded 1955Peak year
1922
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1908
Merrel popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1908–1955
- Peak year (1922)
- 15
- Annual births at peak, across 48 years of records
Merrel popularity over time - girls
10 total births recorded since 1917 (Merrel as girls' name)
Merrel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Merrel's strongest decade.
89 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Merrel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 6
1900s
6 births
- 1910s
1910s
59 births
- 1920s
1920s
89 births
- 1930s
1930s
49 births
- 1940s
1940s
46 births
- 1950s 10
1950s
10 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 89 births (34% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Merrel? ▼
Merrel has been given to 259 babies in the U.S. since 1908, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1955. 15 babies were born in 1922, its single highest year.
When was Merrel most popular? ▼
Merrel was most popular in the 1920s decade with 89 total births. The single peak year was 1922.
How long has the name Merrel been used? ▼
Records for Merrel go back to 1908, giving 48 years of history through 1955.
What names are similar to Merrel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Merle, Merlin, Merrill, Mervin, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Merrel's data
- Merrel's decade-level peak was the 1920s (89 total births); usage has since declined to 10 in the 1950s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Merrel
Nearby Names Like Merrel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merrel
Merle Boy
#4573 30,666 births
Merlin Boy
#2063 15,049 births
Merrill Boy
#10939 12,988 births
Mervin Boy
#2394 12,322 births
Merritt Boy
#1891 6,151 births
Compare Merrel side by side: Merrel vs Merle Merrel vs Merlin Merrel vs Merrill
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1908–1955 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Merrel: Baby Name Since 1908 - 259 Births, Peak 1922." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merrel. 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 Merrel 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 June 2026.