Holding steady.
Popularity of Merrel since 1908
Babies named Merrel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Merrel's real moment was 1908.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 59 |
| 1920s | 89 |
| 1930s | 49 |
| 1940s | 46 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Merrel is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1908. It has never entered the top 1000, and its usage has remained consistently low over the decades. The name's peak year was 1908, the year it was first recorded, and its trajectory has been stable since then, with only a handful of births in any given year. As a result, the one-in-N statistic is not available. Merrel is likely a variant of the more common surname-turned-first-name Merrill, which itself has Welsh and Norman roots. Despite its obscurity, the name has a classic, vintage feel that may appeal to parents seeking something distinctive yet familiar.
Merrel is most likely a variant of Merrill, which has two possible origins: from the Welsh personal name Meredydd (later Meredith) or from the Norman French name Muriel, meaning 'bright sea.' The name has been used in English-speaking countries since at least the early 20th century, though it has never been common. Its use may also have been influenced by the English surname Merrell.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mer, Merr
Sibling names for Merrel
Names that share Merrel's style, for a brother or sister.
