Merle
Merle is a boy's name of French origin.
Meaning
Blackbird.
Origin and history
Merle is a unisex name of French origin, derived from the word for the blackbird. Historically popular as a given name for boys in the early to mid-20th century in the U.S., its usage has become much less frequent today.
Popularity in the United States
30,666 babies in the United States have been named Merle since 1880. It ranks #677 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1750.
States where it is most popular
- PA (14.7 %)
- IA (9.8 %)
- IL (8.2 %)
- OH (8 %)
- KS (6.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 207 |
| 1890-1900 | 378 |
| 1900-1910 | 651 |
| 1910-1920 | 4,645 |
| 1920-1930 | 7,970 |
| 1930-1940 | 5,800 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,187 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,031 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,503 |
| 1970-1980 | 929 |
| 1980-1990 | 502 |
| 1990-2000 | 292 |
| 2000-2010 | 214 |
| 2010-2019 | 180 |
| 2020-2029 | 177 |
Famous people named Merle
- Merle Haggard: Musician, Singer
- Merle Travis: Musician, Guitarist
Fun facts
- The name comes directly from the Old French word 'merle', meaning blackbird, derived from Latin 'merula'.
- While historically used for both boys and girls in the United States, it achieved significant popularity for males in the early 20th century.