Merritt is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It is derived from an English surname that was originally an occupational name for a supervisor or overseer on an estate. The name is thought to have come from the Middle English word 'merchet', which referred to the right of a lord to demand a heriot, or a funeral gift, from his tenants.
The name Merritt first appeared in England during the 13th century and was brought to America by early settlers. It has since become more commonly used as a given name for boys in the United States. In fact, according to data from the Social Security Administration, Merritt was among the top 1000 most popular boy names in the U.S. during the 1980s and 1990s.
Despite its English origins, Merritt has a somewhat rustic and frontier-like feel to it, perhaps due to its associations with the American West and the idea of overseeing or managing land and resources. It is also a name that seems to lend itself well to being shortened into a nickname, such as Mert or Rit.
Overall, Merritt is an uncommon yet memorable name choice for parents looking for something distinctive and meaningful for their child. Its occupational origins give it a practical and down-to-earth quality, while its American associations provide it with a sense of history and tradition.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Merritt in the United States from 1880 to 2023, we can observe several trends and patterns.
From 1880 to around 1920, there was a significant increase in the number of babies named Merritt each year. The number of births peaked in 1920 with 115 births, marking the highest point during this period. However, it's essential to note that these statistics were before the introduction of Social Security records in 1937, which may have affected the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the data.
After 1920, the popularity of the name Merritt began to decline steadily until around 1958 when only 27 babies were named Merritt. This low point marked a significant shift in trends for this particular name.
From 1959 onwards, there was a slight increase in the number of babies named Merritt each year, with fluctuations ranging from 24 to 49 births annually until the late 1970s. During this time, the name's popularity remained relatively consistent but did not reach the heights seen during the early 20th century.
Since the 1980s, the number of babies named Merritt has generally stayed between 15 and 30 births per year in the United States. There were a few exceptions, such as peaks in 1997 (25 births), 2014 (65 births), 2017 (105 births), and most recently in 2023 with 83 births.
In total, from 1880 to 2023, there have been approximately 5950 babies named Merritt born in the United States. While Merritt may not be one of the most popular names today, it has maintained a consistent presence among baby names throughout history.