Meriah
An English feminine name possibly derived from the Hebrew word "miriam" meaning "sea of bitterness" or "beloved".
Name Census estimates that about 881 living Americans carry the first name Meriah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Meriah today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Meriah births was 1991 (52 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Meriah. 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
881
~ 1 in 389,051 Americans
Peak year
1991
52 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
2024 SSA rank
#16,822
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Meriah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Meriah from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 376 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
Meriah 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 Meriah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Meriahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, Colorado recorded the most babies named Meriah, while Colorado, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 29 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Meriah
The name Meriah is believed to have its origins in the ancient Middle Eastern region, specifically within the Arabic language and culture. It is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "mariah," which means "prosperous" or "flourishing." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals as a symbol of hope and prosperity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meriah can be traced back to the 7th century CE, when it appeared in various ancient Arabic texts and records. During this time period, the name was primarily associated with the Islamic faith and was often given to girls born into devout Muslim families.
As the centuries passed, the name Meriah began to spread beyond the confines of the Middle East, finding its way into various cultures and communities across the globe. In the 12th century, a notable figure named Meriah al-Qurtubiyya, a renowned scholar and poet from Cordoba, Spain, gained recognition for her literary contributions.
In the 15th century, a woman named Meriah bint al-Hasan, who hailed from the city of Mecca, was celebrated for her philanthropic endeavors and her efforts in supporting educational initiatives for underprivileged children.
The 18th century saw the rise of Meriah al-Andalusiyya, a celebrated artist and calligrapher from Andalusia, whose intricate works were highly sought after by collectors and patrons of the arts.
Moving into the 19th century, Meriah Khanum, a prominent figure in the Ottoman Empire, made her mark as a skilled diplomat and negotiator, renowned for her ability to navigate complex political landscapes with finesse.
Throughout its rich history, the name Meriah has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and walks of life, each leaving their unique imprint on the tapestry of human experience.
People
Meriah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Meriah 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
Meriah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Meriah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 881 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Meriah 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 389,051 US residents.
Is Meriah a common name?
We classify Meriah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 910 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Meriah most popular?
The single biggest year for Meriah was 1991, when 52 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Meriah is about 29 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Meriah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Meriah 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.