How to say it
MER · ritt
ˈmɛr.ɪt
Feminine
Merritt
Boundary gate
What it means
An English surname turned given name, from a place name meaning 'boundary gate.'
Merritt began as an English surname drawn from a place name, most often traced to Merriott in Somerset, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Meriet.' It reads as 'boundary gate,' from the Old English 'gemaere,' 'boundary,' and 'geat,' 'gate.' The family name later crossed over into first-name use, and today it lands as a crisp, unisex surname name. It looks like the merit of achievement but is not related to that word. Merritt is a debut in the 2025 US girls' top 1000, jumping from outside the list at rank 1410 to 703.
How to spell Merritt
The standard spelling is Merritt. Common variants include Merit, Meritt, Merriott, but Merritt is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #703 in 2025, currently #703 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Looks like 'merit' but comes from a place name meaning 'boundary gate.'
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Merritt Wever American actress and three-time Emmy Award winner
Spelling variants
- Merit
- Meritt
- Merriott
Names with the same feeling
See Merritt from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Merritt mean?
- An English surname turned given name, from a place name meaning 'boundary gate.'
- What does Merritt mean in English?
- In English, Merritt means "Boundary gate." Merritt began as an English surname drawn from a place name, most often traced to Merriott in Somerset, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Meriet.' It reads as 'boundary gate,' from the Old English 'gemaere,' 'boundary,' and 'geat,' 'gate.' The family name later crossed over into first-name use, and today it lands as a crisp, unisex surname name. It looks like the merit of achievement but is not related to that word. Merritt is a debut in the 2025 US girls' top 1000, jumping from outside the list at rank 1410 to 703.
- How do you pronounce Merritt?
- Merritt is pronounced ˈmɛr.ɪt. Say it as MER-ritt, with the stress on the "mer" syllable.
- How do you spell Merritt?
- The standard spelling is Merritt. Common spelling variants include Merit, Meritt, Merriott.
- Is Merritt a boy or girl name?
- Merritt is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Merritt?
- Merritt ranked #703 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.