Merci
Girl name · #3481 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Merci? In official American birth records, Merci has been tracked continuously since 1963, giving it 62 years of documented American history.
Merci is currently the #3481 girl name in the United States — 44 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #4403, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 40,909 girls born in 2025 was named Merci.
The 62-year story
Merci first appears in the Social Security records in 1963, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2019, when 69 girls were named Merci — good for #2538 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Merci per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Merci against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Merci in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Merci is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Merci will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Merci is most common
State-level data for Merci is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Merci
Statistically, parents drawn to Merci tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Milli, Marlei, Miri, Mahari, and Mayeli.
MilliMarleiMiriMahariMayeliNiomiMadiAloni
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Merci | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | #3459 |
| 2024 | 32 | #4387 |
| 2023 | 49 | #3274 |
| 2022 | 66 | #2639 |
| 2021 | 48 | #3297 |
| 2020 | 47 | #3281 |
| 2019 | 69 | #2538 |
| 2018 | 51 | #3158 |
| 2017 | 47 | #3346 |
| 2016 | 45 | #3464 |
| 2015 | 32 | #4403 |
| 2014 | 34 | #4269 |
| 2013 | 26 | #5143 |
| 2012 | 19 | #6576 |
| 2011 | 23 | #5728 |
| 2010 | 19 | #6641 |
| 2009 | 23 | #5891 |
| 2008 | 18 | #7073 |
| 2007 | 12 | #9539 |
| 2006 | 15 | #7868 |
| 2005 | 22 | #5600 |
| 2004 | 8 | #11624 |
| 2003 | 15 | #7207 |
| 2002 | 24 | #4906 |
| 2001 | 16 | #6619 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Merci?
In official American birth records, the name Merci first appeared in 1963 (over 62 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 62 years.
Is Merci a popular girl name?
Merci ranked #3481 among girls in 2025 with 44 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4403.
When was the name Merci most popular?
Merci peaked in 2019, when 69 American girls received the name (ranked #2538 that year). Since 2019 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Merci?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 40,909 newborn American girls was named Merci. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.