Find out how popular the first name Merek has been for the last 36 years (from 1987 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Merek by gender

Based on the last 36 years of data, Merek is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Merek.

The history of the first name Merek

The name Merek has its origins in the ancient Aramaic language, which was spoken in the Middle East during the time of the Persian Empire, around the 6th century BCE. The name is derived from the Aramaic word "merek," which means "bitter" or "sour." It's believed to have been used as a descriptive name, possibly referring to someone with a stern or serious demeanor.

In the early centuries of the Common Era, the name Merek appeared in various Aramaic texts and inscriptions found in regions like Syria, Iraq, and parts of modern-day Turkey. It was a relatively uncommon name but was used among certain communities in the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Merek can be found in the Babylonian Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism compiled between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE. The Talmud mentions a figure named Merek ben Yaakov, who was a Jewish scholar and teacher during the 2nd century CE.

During the Middle Ages, the name Merek was occasionally used among various Jewish communities in the Middle East and North Africa. One notable figure was Merek ibn Ezra, a Jewish philosopher and poet who lived in Spain during the 12th century (around 1092-1167 CE).

In more recent history, the name Merek has been relatively uncommon, but there have been a few individuals who bore this name. One example is Merek Greenberg (1922-2010), an American film and television actor who appeared in various roles throughout the mid-20th century.

Another notable figure was Merek Lipinski (1898-1986), a Polish-born American sculptor and artist who was known for his works depicting religious themes and historical figures.

Merek Putranto (1961-2020) was an Indonesian politician and economist who served as the Minister of Trade in Indonesia from 2019 until his passing in 2020.

In the world of sports, Merek Hazen (born 1985) is an American professional basketball player who has played in various leagues around the world, including in Europe and Asia.

Finally, Merek Blackmon (born 1991) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays in the NBA G League, the official minor league organization of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

While not a particularly common name throughout history, Merek has been used in various cultures and contexts, often carrying the connotation of bitterness or seriousness, reflecting its Aramaic roots.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Merek was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Merek, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!