Holding steady, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Merriam since 1912
Babies named Merriam per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 72 |
| 1920s | 96 |
| 1930s | 55 |
| 1940s | 64 |
| 1950s | 32 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Merriam is a rare and distinctive name with deep biblical roots, historically used more often as a surname but occasionally given to girls. Its peak popularity came in 1922, when it ranked notably higher, though it never entered widespread use. In 2025, Merriam ranks 14,942, with an incidence of about 1 in 321,453 newborns, reflecting its continued rarity. The name is most familiar through the Merriam-Webster dictionary publisher, which has cemented its association with language and learning. Parents drawn to vintage, uncommon biblical variants may find Merriam an appealing alternative to Miriam or Mary.
Merriam is a variant of Miriam, the Hebrew name of the sister of Moses and Aaron in the Old Testament. The name Miriam likely originated from the Egyptian 'mry' meaning 'beloved' or from the Hebrew 'mar' meaning 'bitter' combined with 'yam' meaning 'sea'. In English usage, Merriam emerged as a surname and occasionally as a given name, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mer, Meri, Mim
Sibling names for Merriam
Names that share Merriam's style, for a brother or sister.
