NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Merrin

A feminine variant of Meredith, derived from a Celtic name meaning "great ruler".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Merrin is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Merrin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 4 births.

This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1999 to 2019. 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.

The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Merrin. 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 2020 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Merrin ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1999, when 4 girls were registered as Merrin.
  • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Merrin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5591

2019

Births in 2019

3

Latest year

Peak year

1999

4 births

Estimated living

17

2026

Meaning

What does Merrin mean?

The name Merrin is believed to have its origins in the ancient Celtic language. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "muirnin," which means "beloved" or "darling." This name was particularly popular among the Celtic tribes that inhabited parts of modern-day Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Merrin can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient chronicle documenting events in medieval Ireland. The text mentions a woman named Merrin who lived in the 8th century and was known for her exceptional beauty and grace.

In the 12th century, a Welsh poet named Meirion Goch wrote a series of love poems dedicated to a woman named Merrin. These poems provide insight into the cultural significance of the name during that time period and its association with love and affection.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Merrin. One of the earliest was Merrin ap Rhys (1165-1201), a Welsh prince and military leader who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Welsh and the Anglo-Norman forces during the late 12th century.

Another historical figure with the name Merrin was Merrin O'Reilly (1520-1587), an Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Reilly clan in County Cavan. He was known for his resistance against English colonization and his efforts to preserve Irish culture and traditions.

In the 17th century, Merrin Calvert (1623-1678) was a prominent English Quaker and one of the earliest settlers in the colony of Maryland. She played a crucial role in establishing the Quaker community in the region and advocating for religious tolerance.

Moving forward to the 19th century, Merrin Daly (1845-1927) was an Irish politician and member of the British Parliament. She was a vocal advocate for Irish Home Rule and worked tirelessly to promote the rights of Irish citizens within the United Kingdom.

Finally, in the 20th century, Merrin Dungey (born 1971) is an American actress best known for her roles in various television shows, including "Alias," "Big Little Lies," and "The Conners." She has received critical acclaim for her performances and continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Merrin over time

The chart below shows babies named Merrin registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Merrin, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Merrin
01234199920092019

Decades

Merrin by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Merrin 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 #5490 13 4
1990s #3225 4 1

Related

Names similar to Merrin

FAQ

Merrin: questions and answers

How popular is the name Merrin in the UK right now?

In 2019, Merrin was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Merrin most popular?

The peak year on record was 1999, with 4 babies registered as Merrin in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Merrin?

A feminine variant of Meredith, derived from a Celtic name meaning "great ruler".

How many people are called Merrin in the UK?

A total of 17 babies have been registered as Merrin across the 5 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.