Merl
Merl is a boy's name of French origin.
Meaning
Blackbird.
Origin and history
Merl is a masculine name derived from the Old French word for a blackbird. It was historically used as a given name or surname in English-speaking regions. Though once moderately common in the early 20th century in the U.S., it is rarely used today.
Popularity in the United States
2,574 babies in the United States have been named Merl since 1880. It ranks #2555 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- IN (16.4 %)
- PA (15.1 %)
- OH (13.9 %)
- OK (9.8 %)
- IA (8.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 15 |
| 1890-1900 | 58 |
| 1900-1910 | 69 |
| 1910-1920 | 503 |
| 1920-1930 | 693 |
| 1930-1940 | 411 |
| 1940-1950 | 331 |
| 1950-1960 | 265 |
| 1960-1970 | 145 |
| 1970-1980 | 69 |
| 1980-1990 | 15 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Merl
- Merl LaVoy: photographer, cinematographer
Fun facts
- The name stems from the Old French 'merle', which traces back to the Latin 'merula', meaning blackbird.
- Merl is a spelling variant of the more common name Merle, both peak-trending in the United States during the early-to-mid 1900s.