How to say it
MER · e · dith
/ˈmɛr.ə.dɪθ/
Feminine
Meredith
Great ruler
What it means
A Welsh name, usually read as 'great lord' or 'great ruler,' originally given to boys.
Meredith is a Welsh name from Maredudd, usually read as 'great lord' or 'great ruler.' It started out male in Wales and crossed into use as a girls' name in the 20th century, especially in America. Meredith Grey of Grey's Anatomy is a modern anchor. Smart and a touch literary. Merry is the short.
Popularity over time
peaked at #140 in 1980, currently #469 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Merry.
- Worth knowing
Originally a Welsh boys' name, now used mainly for girls.
- Pop culture
Meredith Grey of Grey's Anatomy.
Spelling variants
- Meredyth
- Maredudd
Names with the same feeling
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By meaning
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