Declining since 2018, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Meridian since 1992
Babies named Meridian per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Meridian's real moment was 1997.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 89 |
| 2000s | 124 |
| 2010s | 118 |
| 2020s | 68 |
Meaning & origin
Meridian is a modern, rare name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1992. Its highest point of use was in 1997, though it has never been common. Since 2018, its popularity has been declining. In 2025, it ranked 10,107, with an incidence of about 1 in 178,585 births. The name may be inspired by the geographic term 'meridian,' evoking a sense of direction or a high point. It has not been associated with any specific top states or cultural heritage, making it a truly open canvas. Parents drawn to lyrical, nature-adjacent names may find Meridian appealing, despite its rarity.
Meridian first appeared in the United States in the 1990s, possibly as a modern coinage derived from the English word 'meridian,' referring to a circle of constant longitude or the highest point of the sun. It may also have been influenced by similar-sounding names like Mariam or Meredith. The name saw a slight peak in popularity in 1997 but has remained rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Meri, Ria, Dee
Sibling names for Meridian
Names that share Meridian's style, for a brother or sister.
