Merry Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Merry is an Old English name originating from the word 'myrige,' meaning joyful or pleasant. It has evolved through language forms such as Myrige and Meri to its modern form. The name embodies traits of cheerfulness and positivity, and it has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century and continues to be viewed as a cheerful name today.
The name Merry is most popular in Michigan, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers 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, Merry 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, 'Merry' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1260th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 717th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 556th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1292nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2836th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6026th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6388th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Merry' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Merry"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɛri/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Merry is derived from the Old English word 'myrige,' which means 'pleasant' or 'joyful.' It has been used as a given name since the Middle Ages.
Meaning
joyful, cheerful
Language Evolution
Old English: Myrige, Middle English: Meri, Modern English: Merry
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a reflection of a joyful and cheerful disposition.
Variants & Derivatives
Meri, Merrie, Merryman
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Merry is perceived as a light-hearted and cheerful name, often associated with positivity and happiness.
Famous People
Merry Clayton, an American singer known for her work with various artists., Merry Renk, a notable figure in the arts.
Explore More Merry Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Merry"
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 "Merry"
"Merry" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1260th of 9107 | 655 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 717th of 9204 | 1,819 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 556th of 12526 | 5,327 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1292nd of 19264 | 1,388 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2836th of 27321 | 616 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6026th of 35406 | 323 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6388th of 30306 | 227 |
Regional Popularity of "Merry" 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 "Merry" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
64.76% 917th/1416 |
- |
76.67% 1814th/2366 |
71.45% 816th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
33.64% 520th/1546 |
48.97% 762nd/1556 |
41.44% 975th/2353 |
35.68% 552nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
20.21% 450th/2227 |
26.42% 642nd/2430 |
22.36% 638th/2853 |
19.82% 550th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
43.82% 1287th/2937 |
52.66% 1834th/3483 |
35.47% 1248th/3518 |
35.09% 1419th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 3685th/3685 |
- |
57.12% 2967th/5194 |
41.97% 2651st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
74.32% 5435th/7313 |
100.00% 7463rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
94.39% 5924th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Merry"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Merry" 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.