Holding steady.
Popularity of Merced since 1905
Babies named Merced per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1942, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Merced's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 6 |
| 1910s | 10 | 58 |
| 1920s | 79 | 82 |
| 1930s | 17 | 83 |
| 1940s | 6 | 84 |
| 1950s | 10 | 86 |
| 1960s | 7 | 62 |
| 1970s | 5 | 73 |
| 1980s | 18 | 75 |
| 1990s | 24 | 79 |
| 2000s | 0 | 52 |
| 2010s | 5 | 17 |
| 2020s | 0 | 7 |
Meaning & origin
Merced is a rare Spanish name rooted in religious devotion, specifically to Our Lady of Mercy. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1905, its peak year, and has seen minimal usage since. The name has not ranked in the top 1000, with no recorded births in recent decades. Its trajectory is stable, meaning it has never experienced a significant surge. The name is almost exclusively used for boys, though its feminine counterpart, Mercedes, is far more common. As a given name, Merced offers a distinctive choice tied to a specific Marian title, but it remains an obscure pick even among Spanish-themed names.
Merced is a Spanish name taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Merced, meaning 'Our Lady of Mercy.' It originated as a devotion to the Mercedarian order, founded in the 13th century. The name has been used occasionally in Spanish-speaking countries and among Catholic families, though it remains rare. In the United States, it has been recorded since the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mer
Variants: Mercedes
Sibling names for Merced
Names that share Merced's style, for a brother or sister.
