Merit is of Latin origin and means 'sea'. It is derived from the word 'mare', which translates to 'sea' in English. This name was particularly popular during the Roman Empire, often bestowed upon children born near bodies of water or with a desire for them to have strength and resilience like the sea.
The name Merit has experienced periods of popularity and obscurity throughout the 20th century and into the 21st. The peak years for births with this name were 2014 (16 births) and 2020 (15 births).