Find out how popular the first name Merry has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Merry by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Merry is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 10 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Merry.

The history of the first name Merry

The name Merry has its roots in Old English, deriving from the word "myrige," which means "pleasant" or "joyful." It is believed to have originated in Anglo-Saxon England during the 5th to 11th centuries AD. The name was commonly used as a descriptive nickname for people with a cheerful or merry disposition.

In medieval times, the name Merry appeared in various English literary works, including the famous Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, where one of the characters is referred to as "Merry the Miller." This suggests that the name was in use during the 14th century in England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Merry can be found in the Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions a landowner named Merry de Wallingford, indicating the name's use among the English nobility during the 11th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Merry. Merry Andrew was a popular stage name for comedians and jesters during the 16th and 17th centuries in England. One of the most famous Merry Andrews was Richard Tarlton (c. 1535-1588), a renowned comic actor in the court of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Merry Ouynn (1737-1812), an English actress and writer known for her roles in Shakespearean plays and her memoir detailing her experiences in the theater.

In the realm of literature, Merry Bromfield (1579-1655) was an English poet and dramatist who collaborated with renowned playwrights like John Fletcher and Thomas Heywood during the Jacobean and Caroline eras.

Merry Lepper (1888-1975) was an American architect and educator who played a significant role in the Prairie School of architecture, working closely with Frank Lloyd Wright.

Lastly, Merry Renk (1920-2009) was a German-American artist known for her abstract expressionist paintings and her contributions to the Washington Color School movement in the mid-20th century.

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 Merry was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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