Merced is a unisex given name of Spanish origin, derived from the word 'mercedes', which means 'mercy' or 'favor'. It was popularized as a personal name by Saint Mercedes, a Roman noblewoman who converted to Christianity and dedicated herself to helping the sick and needy. The name Merced gained prominence during the Middle Ages in Spain and has since been widely used throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
The name Merced experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with notable peaks in 1920 (10 births) and 1924 (12 births), but generally maintaining a steady presence with most years seeing between 5 to 9 births. However, there was a significant gap in reported births from 1932 to 1947, after which the name's popularity seemed to stabilize, though at a lower level than in previous decades. The most recent data point from 2010 suggests that Merced remains a rarely chosen name.