Merrideth
A feminine name derived from the Old English "Mæredyth", meaning "prosperous" or "power".
Name Census estimates that about 43 living Americans carry the first name Merrideth. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Merrideth today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Merrideth births was 1973 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Merrideth. 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 Merrideth. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
43
~ 1 in 7,971,031 Americans
Peak year
1973
8 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
1998 SSA rank
#15,748
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Merrideth: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Merrideth from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 43 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Merrideth 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 Merrideth 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 Merrideth
The name Merrideth is believed to have its origins in the ancient Welsh language. It is a feminine name derived from the Welsh words "mor," meaning "sea," and "rhedeg," meaning "to run" or "to flow." The combination of these words suggests a connection to the sea or a body of water that flows or runs, perhaps referencing a river or stream.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Merrideth can be traced back to the 12th century in Wales. During this time, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as "Merriydyth," "Merridith," or "Merredeth," reflecting the local dialects and spelling conventions of the time.
In the 13th century, the name Merrideth appeared in several historical records and documents in Wales. One notable mention was in the "Annales Cambriae," a medieval Welsh chronicle that recorded significant events from the 5th to the 13th centuries.
Throughout history, the name Merrideth has been borne by several influential and notable individuals. One such person was Merrideth Crean (1696-1772), an English actress and singer who performed on the London stage during the 18th century. She was known for her roles in various plays and operas.
Another historical figure was Merrideth Emrys (1510-1578), a Welsh scholar and poet who lived during the Tudor period. He was renowned for his contributions to Welsh literature and his efforts in preserving the Welsh language and culture.
In the 19th century, Merrideth Mallory (1823-1901) was an American author and educator from Virginia. She wrote several books and articles on topics such as education, women's rights, and literature.
The name Merrideth also found its way into the world of literature. One example is the character Merrideth Blythe, a recurring character in the "Anne of Green Gables" book series by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, which was first published in 1908.
Additionally, Merrideth Holburn (1928-2004) was a notable Australian artist and painter known for her abstract expressionist works. Her paintings are featured in various galleries and collections around the world.
People
Merrideth + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Merrideth 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
Merrideth: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Merrideth?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 43 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Merrideth 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 7,971,031 US residents.
Is Merrideth a common name?
We classify Merrideth as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 48 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Merrideth most popular?
The single biggest year for Merrideth was 1973, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Merrideth is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Merrideth a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Merrideth 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.