Merrick Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Merrick originates from Old Welsh, meaning 'sea ruler'. It evolved from Myrddin to Merlin and finally to Merrick in Modern English. It carries traits of strength and uniqueness, with no direct biblical relevance. The name gained popularity in the 19th century and is currently viewed favorably as a distinctive choice.
The name Merrick is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. 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, Merrick has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Merrick' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3102nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3001st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2001st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1987th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2213th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1368th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1009th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11321st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7933rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7042nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Merrick' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Merrick"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɛrɪk/
Origin
Old Welsh
Etymology
The name Merrick is derived from the Old Welsh name 'Myrddin', which means 'sea lord' or 'sea ruler'. It has connections to the legendary figure Merlin, known in Arthurian legend.
Meaning
sea ruler
Language Evolution
Myrddin (Old Welsh), Merlin (Middle English), Merrick (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Merrick has been used in Wales since the medieval period and gained popularity in the 19th century due to its association with the legendary figure Merlin.
Variants & Derivatives
Merik, Merric, Merrit
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Merrick is perceived as a unique and strong name, gaining traction among parents looking for less common names for their children.
Famous People
Merrick Garland - U.S. Attorney General, Merrick B. G. - American writer and poet
Explore More Merrick Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Merrick"
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 "Merrick"
"Merrick" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3102nd of 7545 | 114 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 3001st of 6773 | 117 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2001st of 7552 | 304 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1987th of 10718 | 351 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2213th of 16616 | 479 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1368th of 24088 | 1,731 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1009th of 23106 | 2,519 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 11321st of 27321 | 76 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 7933rd of 35406 | 222 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 7042nd of 30306 | 199 |
Regional Popularity of "Merrick" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
- |
61.09% 1743rd/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
52.45% 2724th/5194 |
40.62% 2566th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
31.08% 1424th/4582 |
44.71% 2309th/5164 |
21.07% 1541st/7313 |
15.45% 1153rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
20.01% 797th/3984 |
34.46% 1546th/4487 |
18.28% 1247th/6822 |
13.30% 835th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Merrick" by Generation for Female 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) |
- | - |
94.65% 6922nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Merrick"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Merrick" 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.