Merri Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Merri is an English name derived from the Old French 'merry', meaning joyful or cheerful. It evolved from Old French to Middle English and into its modern form. The name reflects a sense of happiness and light-heartedness. It does not have biblical relevance but gained popularity in the 19th century. Common variants include Merry and Merrie. Today, Merri is seen as a positive and approachable name, associated with notable figures such as Merriweather Lewis.
The name Merri is most popular in Michigan, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West 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, Merri 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, 'Merri' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8441st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3737th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1033rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1728th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5433rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 17663rd out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Merri' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Merri"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɛri/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Merri is derived from the Old French word 'merry', which means 'joyful' or 'cheerful'. It is often associated with happiness and light-heartedness.
Meaning
joyful, cheerful
Language Evolution
Old French: meri, Middle English: merie, Modern English: Merri
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, particularly as a feminine form of names like Mary and as a reflection of a cheerful disposition.
Variants & Derivatives
Merry, Merrie, Merrie Ann
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Merri is perceived as a light-hearted and approachable name, often associated with positivity and joy.
Famous People
Merriweather Lewis - American explorer, Merri M. H. Martin - American author
Explore More Merri Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Merri"
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 "Merri"
"Merri" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8441st of 9107 | 7 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3737th of 9204 | 108 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1033rd of 12526 | 1,881 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1728th of 19264 | 874 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 5433rd of 27321 | 246 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 17663rd of 35406 | 54 |
Regional Popularity of "Merri" 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 "Merri" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
37.00% 824th/2227 |
42.88% 1042nd/2430 |
45.01% 1284th/2853 |
31.42% 872nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
57.58% 1691st/2937 |
72.35% 2520th/3483 |
51.99% 1829th/3518 |
52.18% 2110th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Merri"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Merri" 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.