Merit

At a Glance

Meaning

Worth or excellence, from the English word 'merit'

Origin

English word-name (ultimately Latin meritum); separately a rare Scandinavian variant of Margaret via Marit/Märta

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

MER-itListen

Merit is a neutral name taken directly from the English word for worth or excellence, tracing back to the Latin meritum — pronounced MER-it. Separately, it also shows up as a rare Scandinavian variant of Margaret, arriving through the forms Marit and Märta. With its clean, modern feel, it works as a short, meaning-forward option for a child of any gender.

Meaning & Origin of Merit

Meaning: Worth or excellence, from the English word 'merit'.

Origin: English word-name (ultimately Latin meritum); separately a rare Scandinavian variant of Margaret via Marit/Märta.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Merit

Popularity of Merit

Merit has stayed rare in U.S. records: it peaked at #3447 back in 1922 with just 8 babies given the name, and by 2024 it ranked #6338 with only 14. Across the full Social Security data range of 1918-2024, it's never been a common choice.

Names Like Merit

These names share Merit’s style, era or origin.

• Auren
• Auri
• Blaze
• Glory
• Honor
• Jovie

FAQ

What does the name Merit mean?

Worth or excellence, from the English word ‘merit’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Merit?

Merit is pronounced MER-it (IPA: /ˈmɛrɪt/).

Is Merit a popular name right now?

Merit peaked at #3447 in 1922 and is ranked #6338 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1918–2024.)

Make Merit Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Merit, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.