The first name Merida
A girl’s name.
Pronounced /ˈmɛ(ə)ɹ.ɪ.də/ 3 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Uncertain. Possibly a coinage based on Mary, or transferred from the Spanish place name Mérida.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 8 girls were named Merida, making it the 3,035th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2018, with 21 births (#1,490).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Merida with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Merida at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 65 girls born in the United States were named Merida, the 2,677th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2017, when 116 were.
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 Merida
Questions
- What does the name Merida mean?
- Uncertain. Possibly a coinage based on Mary, or transferred from the Spanish place name Mérida.
- How popular is the name Merida?
- In 2025, 8 girls born in England and Wales were named Merida, ranking 3,035th. Its peak was 2018, with 21 births.
- What are nicknames for Merida?
- Common nicknames for Merida include Meri.
- Is Merida a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 1,572 US babies named Merida since 1880 were girls.
- When was Merida most popular?
- 2017 in the United States, when 116 babies were named Merida, its highest rank at 1,796th.
- How do you pronounce Merida?
- Merida is /ˈmɛ(ə)ɹ.ɪ.də/, 3 syllables.
- Is Merida also a surname?
- Yes. Merida is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.