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How Many People Are Named Merle?
Estimated people named Merle living in the U.S. today
11,950
Gender distribution
75% male · 25% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 45,348
- Peak year: 1921 (1,275 births)
- Estimated living today: 11,950
Merle by age group — who carries the name today?
Merle popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Merle
Merle has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 45,348 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 11,950 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 28,603 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Merles you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Merle in the US?
An estimated 11,950 people named Merle are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Merle rare — about 1 in 28,603 Americans.
Is Merle a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Merle is 75% male and 25% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Merle most popular?
Merle peaked in 1921, when 1,275 babies were given the name. Its current trend is rising compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Merle?
Merle ranks #2,155 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 52 out of 100 (higher means rarer).