Mervil
Anglicized form of the French surname Mervielle, of unknown meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Mervil. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mervil today is around 95 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mervil births was 1918 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mervil. 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
- • The typical person named Mervil is about 95 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Mervils were born before 1941.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mervil. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1918
10 babies that year
Average age
95
years old
1943 SSA rank
#3,441
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Mervil: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mervil from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 56 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mervil 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 Mervil 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 Mervil
The name Mervil has its origins in the French language, stemming from the Latin name "Mervilus". This name dates back to the medieval period, particularly in regions of France and parts of Europe where French culture and language had a significant influence.
It is believed that the name Mervil is derived from the Latin root "mirus", meaning "wonderful" or "marvelous". This root can also be found in other Latin words like "mirabilis" and "miraculosus", suggesting a connection to something extraordinary or awe-inspiring.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Mervil can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in French historical records and literary works. During this time, it was primarily used as a masculine name, though its usage was relatively rare.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Mervil. One of the earliest recorded figures was Mervil de Beaumont, a French nobleman and crusader who lived in the late 12th century. He participated in the Third Crusade and is mentioned in chronicles from that era.
Another significant figure was Mervil de Chartres, a French philosopher and theologian who lived in the 13th century. He was a prominent scholar at the University of Paris and contributed to the development of scholastic philosophy during that period.
In the 16th century, Mervil de Marville was a French magistrate and jurist who served as the Lieutenant General of the Provostship of Paris. He played a notable role in the administration of justice during his time.
Mervil Bouquet, born in 1820, was a French historian and archivist who made significant contributions to the study of medieval French history. He is renowned for his extensive research and publications on historical documents and manuscripts.
Moving into the 20th century, Mervil Grosmann was a French artist and sculptor born in 1906. His works, often characterized by their modern and abstract styles, were exhibited in various galleries and museums across Europe.
While the name Mervil has maintained a presence throughout history, it has never been a widely popular name. Its usage has remained relatively uncommon, perhaps due to its unique and somewhat unusual sound in various languages and cultures.
People
Mervil + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mervil 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
Mervil: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mervil?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mervil 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Mervil a common name?
We classify Mervil as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 126 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mervil most popular?
The single biggest year for Mervil was 1918, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mervil is about 95 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mervil a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mervil 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.
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.