Mergen
A masculine name of Mongolian origin meaning "skillful archer".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Mergen. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mergen today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mergen births was 2021 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mergen. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mergen. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2021
6 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2021 SSA rank
#11,663
Tracked since 2019
Popularity
Mergen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mergen from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mergen 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 Mergen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Mergen
The name Mergen is believed to have originated from the Mongolian language, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Mongolian word "mergen," which means "skilled archer" or "marksman." This connection suggests that the name was likely given to individuals who demonstrated exceptional prowess in archery or hunting.
During the height of the Mongol Empire, archery was a highly revered skill and an integral part of their military prowess. The name Mergen may have been bestowed upon warriors or hunters who displayed exceptional marksmanship, serving as a testament to their abilities and earning them respect within their communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mergen can be found in the Secret History of the Mongols, a historical chronicle written in the 13th century. This text mentions individuals with the name Mergen, although specific details about their lives and accomplishments are scarce.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Mergen. One such figure was Mergen Khan (1163-1227), a powerful Mongol ruler and a descendant of Genghis Khan. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Mongol Empire and was known for his military leadership and strategic acumen.
Another notable bearer of the name was Mergen Diyin (1326-1376), a renowned Mongolian scholar and writer. He is credited with translating several Buddhist texts from Tibetan into Mongolian, contributing significantly to the preservation and dissemination of Buddhist teachings within the region.
In the 16th century, Mergen Tsogt (1516-1593) was a prominent Mongolian Buddhist monk and scholar. He is remembered for his efforts in reviving and promoting Buddhist teachings in Mongolia, as well as his contributions to the translation and preservation of religious texts.
Mergen Gegeen (1717-1766) was a highly influential Mongolian Buddhist monk and scholar who played a pivotal role in the revival of Buddhism in the region. He is celebrated for his extensive literary works, including translations of Buddhist texts and his own philosophical writings.
The name Mergen has also been associated with individuals from other cultures and regions, although its origins can be traced back to the Mongolian language and culture. Throughout history, the name has carried a sense of skill, precision, and respect, reflecting the admiration for exceptional archery and marksmanship in the Mongol tradition.
People
Mergen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mergen 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
Mergen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mergen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mergen 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Mergen a common name?
We classify Mergen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mergen most popular?
The single biggest year for Mergen was 2021, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mergen is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Mergen in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Mergen a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mergen in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Mergen still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Mergen in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Mergen can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Mergen?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.