Merna Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Merna is an Irish name meaning 'joyful' or 'cheerful.' It evolved from the name Meara and has been in use since the 20th century. The name is associated with positive traits and has few variants, such as Meara and Myrna. It does not have biblical relevance.
The name Merna is most popular in Nebraska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Merna has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Merna' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1129th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1024th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2523rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9267th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16163rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11695th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9857th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Merna' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Merna"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɜːrnə/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Merna is derived from the Irish name 'Meara,' meaning 'joyful' or 'cheerful.'
Meaning
joyful, cheerful
Language Evolution
Meara, Merna
Historical Usage
The name Merna gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Meara, Myrna
Modern Popularity & Image
Merna is perceived as a unique and cheerful name, often associated with positivity and warmth.
Famous People
Merna B. McEwen, an American psychologist, Merna N. G. H. Arslan, a known figure in the arts
Explore More Merna Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Merna"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Merna"
"Merna" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1129th of 9107 | 776 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1024th of 9204 | 939 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2523rd of 12526 | 380 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 9267th of 19264 | 55 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 16163rd of 27321 | 33 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 11695th of 35406 | 123 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 9857th of 30306 | 121 |
Regional Popularity of "Merna" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Merna" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
44.70% 633rd/1416 |
100.00% 1379th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
44.37% 686th/1546 |
72.88% 1134th/1556 |
- |
74.27% 1149th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
89.99% 2004th/2227 |
- |
100.00% 2853rd/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 4582nd/4582 |
100.00% 5164th/5164 |
- | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Merna"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Merna" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.