Merit is a rare name used for both girls and boys that peaked in 2025 and remains in steady use.
Merit is predominantly a girl name. In 2025 it ranked #3,154 among girls (51) and #4,640 among boys (22) — overall #4,374 across all names. The charts below show girls and boys separately.
| Year | U.S. births | U.S. + territories | ♀ Rank | ♂ Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 73 | 73 | #3,154 | #4,640 |
| 2024 | 29 | 29 | #7,475 | #6,368 |
| 2023 | 37 | 37 | #5,084 | #7,578 |
| 2022 | 27 | 27 | #7,915 | #6,711 |
| 2021 | 25 | 25 | #7,893 | #7,427 |
| 2020 | 26 | 26 | #9,348 | #5,880 |
| 2019 | 28 | 28 | #7,228 | #7,038 |
| 2018 | 19 | 19 | #12,126 | #7,452 |
| 2017 | 27 | 27 | #8,621 | #6,229 |
| 2016 | 26 | 26 | #9,865 | #5,957 |
| 2015 | 22 | 22 | #9,323 | #7,860 |
| 2014 | 25 | 25 | #11,636 | #5,632 |
| 2013 | 21 | 21 | #10,023 | #7,910 |
| 2012 | 8 | 8 | #13,044 | — |
| 2011 | 13 | 13 | #14,329 | #11,793 |
| 2010 | 23 | 23 | #8,578 | #8,565 |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | — | #13,813 |
| 2008 | 12 | 12 | #16,803 | #12,068 |
| 2007 | 7 | 7 | #14,944 | — |
| 2006 | 9 | 9 | #12,081 | — |
| 2005 | 9 | 9 | #11,528 | — |
| 2004 | 6 | 6 | #15,425 | — |
| 2003 | 5 | 5 | #17,469 | — |
| 1991 | 5 | — | #14,584 | — |
| 1986 | 6 | — | #10,400 | — |
| 1980 | 5 | — | #11,495 | — |
| 1970 | 7 | — | #6,803 | — |
| 1969 | 5 | — | #8,233 | — |
| 1965 | 6 | — | #6,273 | — |
| 1947 | 5 | — | — | #4,082 |
| 1922 | 8 | — | — | #3,447 |
| 1921 | 5 | — | — | #4,758 |
| 1919 | 5 | — | — | #4,582 |
| 1918 | 5 | — | — | #4,582 |