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    The first name Meredith

    A girl’s name from Welsh meaning “great lord”.

    Pronounced /məˈɹɛdɪθ/ 3 syllables Female Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Welsh origin

    Meredith means “great lord” in Welsh.

    From Welsh Maredudd (“great lord”).

    More names that mean god.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 48 girls were named Meredith, making it the 763rd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2017, with 89 births (#491).

    04590 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,578
    babies named Meredith, 1996–2025
    #763
    rank in 2025
    2017
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Meredith with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Meredith at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 656 girls born in the United States were named Meredith, the 469th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1980, when 2,071 were.

    01,5003,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    82,044
    babies named Meredith since 1880
    #469
    rank in 2025
    1980
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Meredith

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Meredith

    30 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Wendell Meredith Stanley
      American biochemist and virologist, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1946)
    • Meredith Baxter
      American actress and producer (born 1947)
    • Meredith Monk
      American musician (born 1942)
    • Meredith Brooks
      American singer, songwriter, musician and producer, born 1958
    • Meredith Monroe
      American actress (born 1968)
    • Meredith Vieira
      American broadcast journalist and television personality (born 1953)
    • Meredith Willson
      American composer, conductor, musical arranger, flautist, bandleader and playwright (1902-
    • Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum
      Equestrian, born 1969
    • Meredith Salenger
      American actress, born 1970
    • Meredith Eaton
      American actress, born 1974
    • Meredith Scott Lynn
      American actress, born 1970
    • Meredith Colket
      American tennis player (1878-1947)

    More Welsh girls’ names

    All 78 names of Welsh origin

    Questions

    What does the name Meredith mean?
    Meredith means “great lord” in Welsh.
    What is the origin of the name Meredith?
    From Welsh Maredudd (“great lord”).
    How popular is the name Meredith?
    In 2025, 48 girls born in England and Wales were named Meredith, ranking 763rd. Its peak was 2017, with 89 births.
    What are nicknames for Meredith?
    Common nicknames for Meredith include Merry, Mer.
    Is Meredith a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 95% of the 82,044 US babies named Meredith since 1880 were girls.
    When was Meredith most popular?
    1980 in the United States, when 2,071 babies were named Meredith, its highest rank at 140th.
    How do you pronounce Meredith?
    Meredith is /məˈɹɛdɪθ/, 3 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Meredith?
    Merrihew and Meridith.
    Is Meredith also a surname?
    Yes. Meredith is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.