Total births
858
Unisex name · since 1910
Merril
858 babies named Merril in U.S. Social Security records since 1910, with the highest year being 1920. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 858
- total births
- 1910–2008
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
Merril is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 858 have been recorded since 1910.
Social Security Administration records show Merril recorded 858 times among boys since 1910, 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 1910 to 2008.
- 858 total births
- 1910–2008 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 31% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
858 boys have been named Merril since 1910, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2008.
- 858
- total births
- 1910–2008
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Merril was born in this single decade.
1920
Single peak year
37 babies were named Merril in 1920 - its busiest year on record.
Merril's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Merril's SSA record in two at 1938 and the more recent half accounts for 33% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 67%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1953, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1920 peak of 37, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Merril at a glance
Last recorded 2008Peak year
1920
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1910
Merril popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1910–2008
- Peak year (1920)
- 37
- Annual births at peak, across 99 years of records
Merril popularity over time - girls
134 total births recorded since 1914 (Merril as girls' name)
Merril by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Merril's strongest decade.
263 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Merril births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
176 births
- 1920s
1920s
263 births
- 1930s
1930s
159 births
- 1940s
1940s
132 births
- 1950s 78
1950s
78 births
- 1960s 27
1960s
27 births
- 1970s 12
1970s
12 births
- 1980s 6
1980s
6 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 263 births (31% of all-time use).
How Merril 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 Merril's total volume
Merril vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Merril by state
Where Merril concentrates geographically, total births since 1910
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 17 | 2.0% |
| #2 | Kentucky | | 6 | 0.7% |
| #3 | Wisconsin | | 5 | 0.6% |
Pennsylvania share of Merril's total US births 2.0%
Even split
17 of 858 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Merril? ▼
Merril has been given to 858 babies in the U.S. since 1910, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2008. 37 babies were born in 1920, its single highest year.
When was Merril most popular? ▼
Merril was most popular in the 1920s decade with 263 total births. The single peak year was 1920.
Where is Merril most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Merril are Pennsylvania (17 births), Kentucky (6 births), Wisconsin (5 births).
Is Merril a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Merril is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 858 births, and as a girl's name it has 134 births.
How long has the name Merril been used? ▼
Records for Merril go back to 1910, giving 99 years of history through 2008.
What names are similar to Merril? ▼
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 Merril's data
- Merril's decade-level peak was the 1920s (263 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Merrils (17 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania 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 Merril
Nearby Names Like Merril
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merril
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 Merril side by side: Merril vs Merle Merril vs Merlin Merril 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, 1910–2008 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Merril: Baby Name Since 1910 - 858 Births, Peak 1920." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merril. 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 Merril 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.