Mercades
Of German origin, meaning "from the town of Mercedes".
Name Census estimates that about 568 living Americans carry the first name Mercades. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Mercades today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mercades births was 1998 (45 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mercades. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
568
~ 1 in 603,441 Americans
Peak year
1998
45 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
2019 SSA rank
#14,973
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Mercades: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mercades from the 1980s through to the 2010s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 327 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mercades by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Mercades during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mercades' live
Origin
Meaning and history of Mercades
The name Mercades originates from the Latin word "merces," which means "reward" or "payment." This name has its roots in ancient Roman culture, where it was likely used as a name to honor the goddess of commerce and trade, Mercuria.
In the early days of Christianity, the name Mercades gained popularity as it was associated with the concept of divine mercy and grace. It was believed that the name represented the reward of eternal life promised to those who lived a virtuous life.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mercades can be found in the writings of St. Jerome, a 4th-century Christian scholar and theologian. He mentioned a woman named Mercades who was known for her charitable works and devotion to the Church.
During the Middle Ages, the name Mercades was popular among the nobility and upper classes of Europe. It was seen as a noble and refined name, reflecting the wealth and status of the families who chose to bestow it upon their children.
In the 16th century, Mercades de Velasco, a Spanish noblewoman, became a prominent figure in the court of King Philip II. She was renowned for her beauty, intelligence, and her role as a patron of the arts.
Another notable bearer of the name was Mercades de Acuña, a 17th-century Spanish playwright and poet. Her works explored themes of love, honor, and the complexities of human relationships, earning her widespread acclaim during her lifetime.
In the 19th century, Mercades Cabeza de Vaca was a renowned Spanish explorer and writer. Her accounts of her travels and encounters with Native American tribes in the present-day United States provided valuable insights into the cultures and customs of the indigenous peoples.
The name Mercades has also been associated with strength and resilience. Mercades Rodríguez, a Cuban revolutionary and feminist, was known for her unwavering commitment to social justice and her fight for women's rights in the early 20th century.
Throughout history, the name Mercades has been borne by women from various walks of life, each leaving their mark on the world through their achievements, contributions, and unwavering spirit.
People
Mercades + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mercades as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Mercades: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mercades?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 568 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mercades going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 603,441 US residents.
Is Mercades a common name?
We classify Mercades as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 583 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mercades most popular?
The single biggest year for Mercades was 1998, when 45 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mercades is about 27 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mercades a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mercades in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.