UK girl's name
Meri
An English feminine name derived from the French name Marie, meaning "bitter" or "beloved".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Meri is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Meri popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4763, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2008 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Meri is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Meri. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Meri ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 4 girls were registered as Meri.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meri as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4763
2016
Births in 2016
4
Latest year
Peak year
2016
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Meri mean?
The name Meri is believed to have its origins in ancient Egyptian culture, dating back to around 3100 BC. It is derived from the Egyptian word "mr", meaning "beloved" or "loved one". The name was commonly used for both males and females in ancient Egypt.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meri can be found in the Pyramid Texts, a collection of ancient Egyptian funerary inscriptions from the Old Kingdom period (c. 2686-2181 BC). These texts mention a high official named Meri-Ra, who served during the reign of Pharaoh Pepi I.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, Meri was also the name of a minor goddess associated with singing and music. She was often depicted with a sistrum, a musical instrument used in religious ceremonies.
During the New Kingdom period (c. 1550-1070 BC), the name Meri gained popularity among the nobility and upper classes. One notable figure from this era was Meri-Ptah, a high priest and scribe who lived during the reign of Ramesses II (c. 1279-1213 BC).
In the biblical tradition, the name Meri is sometimes associated with the Hebrew name Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. Although the names have different linguistic origins, they share a similar meaning of "beloved" or "beloved one".
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Meri. One example is Meri-Amon, an ancient Egyptian scribe and painter who lived during the 19th Dynasty (c. 1292-1189 BC). Another is Meri-Ra-Pepi, a high official and vizier who served under Pharaoh Pepi II (c. 2278-2184 BC).
In more recent times, the name Meri has been used by individuals from various cultures and backgrounds. One notable figure is Meri Engo, an Indonesian writer and activist born in 1936. Another is Meri Leisi, an Estonian artist and sculptor born in 1899 and died in 1986.
While the name Meri has its roots in ancient Egyptian culture, it has transcended its origins and has been embraced by people across different regions and time periods, reflecting its enduring appeal and the universal value placed on being loved and cherished.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Meri over time
The chart below shows babies named Meri registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Meri, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2016, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meri by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meri was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5235 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #5545 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Meri
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Meri: questions and answers
How popular is the name Meri in the UK right now?
In 2016, Meri was ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Meri most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 4 babies registered as Meri in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Meri?
An English feminine name derived from the French name Marie, meaning "bitter" or "beloved".
How many people are called Meri in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Meri across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.