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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Great lord, great ruler
- Origin
- Welsh
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- MER-uh-dith
Meredith is a Welsh name meaning "great lord" or "great ruler," and it has a timeless, classic feel. You may hear that it's a blend of Mary and Edith, but that's a common misconception: it actually comes from the Welsh name Maredudd. It's pronounced MER-uh-dith.
Meaning & Origin of Meredith
Meaning: Great lord, great ruler.
Origin: Welsh.
A common claim: Meredith is a combination of 'Mary' and 'Edith' Actually: This is a common misconception — Meredith actually derives from the Welsh name Maredudd ('great lord/ruler') and isn't a blend of Mary and Edith at all.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Meredith
MER-uh-dithIPA /ˈmɛrədɪθ/
Popularity of Meredith
Meredith peaked at #140 in 1980, when 2,071 baby girls were given the name. In 2024 it ranked #492 with 621 girls, so it's far less common today than it was then.
Names Like Meredith
These names share Meredith’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Meredith mean?
Great lord, great ruler. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Meredith?
Meredith is pronounced MER-uh-dith (IPA: /ˈmɛrədɪθ/).
Is Meredith a popular name right now?
Meredith peaked at #140 in 1980 and is ranked #492 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1883–2024.)
Make Meredith Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Meredith, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Meredith? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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