Merida
Girl name · #2655 in 2025 · Uniqueness 80/100
Merida ranks #2655 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 65 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1996, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 27,692 girls born in 2025 was named Merida.
The 109-year story
Merida first appears in the Social Security records in 1916, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 116 girls were named Merida — good for #1792 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 Merida per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Merida against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Merida in class?
Merida scores 80 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Merida will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Merida is most common
Geography matters for names, and Merida is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Meridas were TX (11), CA (10), FL (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Merida
Statistically, parents drawn to Merida tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Vaida, Farida, Miliana, Aleida, and Mishka.
VaidaFaridaMilianaAleidaMishkaMishikaMeilaManha
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Merida | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 65 | #2645 |
| 2024 | 74 | #2434 |
| 2023 | 66 | #2646 |
| 2022 | 80 | #2319 |
| 2021 | 90 | #2103 |
| 2020 | 91 | #2034 |
| 2019 | 85 | #2170 |
| 2018 | 85 | #2190 |
| 2017 | 116 | #1792 |
| 2016 | 102 | #1956 |
| 2015 | 99 | #1996 |
| 2014 | 103 | #1940 |
| 2013 | 110 | #1834 |
| 2012 | 19 | #6576 |
| 2002 | 5 | #15432 |
| 2001 | 5 | #15352 |
| 1996 | 8 | #9581 |
| 1992 | 7 | #10479 |
| 1990 | 5 | #12958 |
| 1988 | 6 | #10386 |
| 1985 | 5 | #10677 |
| 1984 | 6 | #9144 |
| 1983 | 5 | #10275 |
| 1981 | 10 | #6323 |
| 1980 | 11 | #5912 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Merida a popular girl name?
Merida ranked #2655 among girls in 2025 with 65 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1996.
When was the name Merida most popular?
Merida peaked in 2017, when 116 American girls received the name (ranked #1792 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Merida?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 27,692 newborn American girls was named Merida. It scores 80/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.