Girl · #16,210 in 2026

Merely

Name: Popularity of the name Merely in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Merely, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#16,210

Peak Rank

#17,292 (2009)

Total Babies

5-Yr Trend

Stable

2009

First Year

2016

Last Year

2009

Peak Year

#17292

Peak Rank

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Merely

Merely first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2009, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2009, when 5 Merelys were born — ranking #17,292 that year. As of 2026, Merely ranks #16,210 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Merelys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Merely

Phonetically similar names — useful when Merely is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Merely

What does the name Merely mean?

Merely is a girl's name that has been used in U.S. records since 2009. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Merely in 2026?

In 2026, Merely ranks #16,210 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Merely most popular?

Merely reached its peak popularity in 2009, ranking #17,292 that year with 5 babies given the name.

Is Merely a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Merely is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.

What names go well with Merely?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Merely include Aaden, Aaiyana, Aamoni. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Merely

Merely is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2009 and has accumulated 10 births in the dataset. Merely's peak popularity came in 2009 when it ranked #17,292. Use the chart and map above to compare Merely's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.