Meredith is an English given name of Welsh origin, derived from the elements "mered" meaning "great" and "udd" meaning "lord". It was traditionally a masculine name but has been used for females since the 19th century. The name Meredith was popularized by American author James Fenimore Cooper's historical novel "The Last of the Mohicans", published in 1826, where it is borne by one of the main characters. The name has also been used in several works of literature and media since then, further contributing to its familiarity. Meredith can be abbreviated as Merry or Mere, and some variations include Meredithe, Meridith, and Meredyth. It reached peak popularity for girls in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s but has since declined somewhat.
"The name Meredith was quite popular between 1915 and 1939, with peaks in the late 1920s to early 1930s."