Boy · #2,847 in 2026

Merv

Merv, also known as the Merve Oasis, was a major Iranian city in Central Asia, located on the historical Silk Road, near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Human settlements on the site of Merv existed from the 3rd millennium BC until the 18th century AD. It changed hands repeatedly throughout history. Under the Achaemenid Empire, it was the center of the satrapy of Margiana.

Current Rank
#2,847
Peak Rank
#2,539 (1961)
Total Babies
20
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1961
First Year
1962
Last Year
1961
Peak Year
#2539
Peak Rank
20
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Merv

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

Merv, also known as the Merve Oasis, was a major Iranian city in Central Asia, located on the historical Silk Road, near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Human settlements on the site of Merv existed from the 3rd millennium BC until the 18th century AD. It changed hands repeatedly throughout history. Under the Achaemenid Empire, it was the center of the satrapy of Margiana.

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

Origin & history
Ancient city of Merv, present day Merv has prehistoric roots: archaeological surveys have revealed many traces of village life as far back as the 3rd millennium BC and have associated the area culturally with the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex . The geography of the Zend-Avesta (commentaries on the Avesta ) mentions Merv (under the name of Mouru ) along with Balkh . In Zoroastrianism , the god Ahura Mazda created Mouru as one of sixteen perfect lands. Under the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BC), the historical record mentions Merv as a place of some importance: under the name of Margu

The Story of Merv

Merv first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1961, with 11 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1961, when 11 Mervs were born — ranking #2,539 that year. As of 2026, Merv ranks #2,847 for baby boys with 9 births, with steady use. In total, more than 20 Mervs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
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WI
MI
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VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
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OH
PA
NJ
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RI
CA
NV
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MO
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MD
DE
DC
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AR
TN
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OK
LA
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Merv

Phonetically similar names — useful when Merv 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 Merv

What does the name Merv mean?
Merv, also known as the Merve Oasis, was a major Iranian city in Central Asia, located on the historical Silk Road, near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Human settlements on the site of Merv existed from the 3rd millennium BC until the 18th century AD. It changed hands repeatedly throughout history. Under the Achaemenid Empire, it was the center of the satrapy of Margiana.
How popular is Merv in 2026?
In 2026, Merv ranks #2,847 among boys' names in the U.S., with 9 babies given the name that year.
When was Merv most popular?
Merv reached its peak popularity in 1961, ranking #2,539 that year with 11 babies given the name.
Is Merv a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Merv is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Merv?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Merv include Kaz, Tyra, Clavin. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Kaz
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👦
Tyra
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Clavin
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Arty
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👦
Lani
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👦
Marke
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👦
Toren
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Deluca
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About the name Merv

Merv is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1961 and has accumulated 20 births in the dataset. Merv's peak popularity came in 1961 when it ranked #2,539. Use the chart and map above to compare Merv'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.