Girl · #13,427 in 2026

Merina

The Merina people, also known as Imerina, Antimerina, Borizany or Ambaniandro and formerly called Amboalambo, are the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. They are the "highlander" Malagasy ethnic group of the African island and one of the country's eighteen official ethnic groups.

Current Rank
#13,427
Peak Rank
#5,363 (1998)
Total Babies
338
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1965
First Year
2024
Last Year
1998
Peak Year
#5363
Peak Rank
338
Total Count
37
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Merina

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The Merina people, also known as Imerina, Antimerina, Borizany or Ambaniandro and formerly called Amboalambo, are the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. They are the "highlander" Malagasy ethnic group of the African island and one of the country's eighteen official ethnic groups.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
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The Story of Merina

Merina first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1965, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1998, when 19 Merinas were born — ranking #5,363 that year. As of 2026, Merina ranks #13,427 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 338 Merinas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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MI
NY
VT
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MA
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ID
SD
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OH
PA
NJ
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MD
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Merina

Phonetically similar names — useful when Merina 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 Merina

What does the name Merina mean?
The Merina people, also known as Imerina, Antimerina, Borizany or Ambaniandro and formerly called Amboalambo, are the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. They are the "highlander" Malagasy ethnic group of the African island and one of the country's eighteen official ethnic groups.
How popular is Merina in 2026?
In 2026, Merina ranks #13,427 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Merina most popular?
Merina reached its peak popularity in 1998, ranking #5,363 that year with 19 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Merina most popular?
Merina has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Merina.
Is Merina a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Merina is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Merina?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Merina include Marium, Allisen, Mikael. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Marium
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Allisen
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Mikael
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👧
Glendy
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👧
Tucker
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Lexey
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Jalexus
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Rosicela
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About the name Merina

Merina is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1965 and has accumulated 338 births in the dataset. Merina's peak popularity came in 1998 when it ranked #5,363. Use the chart and map above to compare Merina'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.