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.
- #5,660 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 858
- born since 1910
- 1920s
- peak 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.
- #5,660 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 858 born since 1910
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Merril ranks #5,660 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 858 born since 1910, peaking in the 1920s.
- #5,660 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 858
- born since 1910
- 1920s
- peak decade
Merril's 858 recorded births place it above 87.55% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by Pennsylvania.
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 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
1920s is the heaviest window (263 births, 31% of the file).
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 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% |
17 of 858 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
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
Compare Merril side by side: Merril vs Merle Merril vs Merlin Merril vs Merrill
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Merril: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1920)
Similar record span (~98 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, 1910–2008 (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 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 August 2026.