UK boy's name
Mert
A Turkish masculine name derived from the Arabic word "murt" meaning "beloved".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mert is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mert popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1402, with 19 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 34 births.
This profile covers 610 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 606 living people in the UK are called Mert. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mert ranked #1402 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 19 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 34 boys were registered as Mert.
- • About 606 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mert as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1402
2024
Births in 2024
19
Latest year
Peak year
2010
34 births
Estimated living
606
2026
Meaning
What does Mert mean?
The name Mert originates from the Turkish language and culture. It is a diminutive form of the name Mehmet, which is derived from the Arabic name Muhammad, meaning "praised" or "admirable." The earliest recorded use of the name Mert dates back to the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century.
Mert has been a popular name among Turkish families for centuries. It is believed to have gained widespread use during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, who ruled from 1444 to 1481 and conquered Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1453.
In Turkish mythology, Mert is associated with virtues such as bravery, courage, and honor. The name is often given to boys with the hope that they will grow up to embody these qualities. Additionally, some scholars suggest that the name may be related to the ancient Persian word "mard," meaning "man" or "warrior."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Mert can be found in the Ottoman court registers from the 16th century. During this time, several individuals with the name Mert held prominent positions within the Ottoman Empire.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Mert. One of the earliest was Mert Şah, a 14th-century Turkmen ruler who established the Artuqid dynasty in present-day Turkey and Syria. Another famous bearer of the name was Mert Çağlar (1905-1986), a Turkish diplomat and ambassador who served in several countries, including the United States.
In the arts and literature, Mert Efendi (1821-1898) was a renowned Ottoman calligrapher and poet, known for his mastery of the Diwani script. Mert Raşit (1873-1931) was a Turkish novelist and playwright who contributed significantly to the development of modern Turkish literature.
In the field of sports, Mert Günok (born 1987) is a Turkish professional basketball player who has represented the Turkish national team and played in several European leagues. Mert Müldür (born 1998) is a young Turkish footballer who currently plays as a defender for the Italian club Sassuolo.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mert over time
The chart below shows babies named Mert registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mert, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 19 births in 2024, compared with 34 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mert by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mert 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1279 | 106 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1172 | 238 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1072 | 207 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1009 | 59 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Mert
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Mert: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mert in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mert was ranked #1402 for boys in England and Wales, with 19 births registered.
When was Mert most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 34 babies registered as Mert in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mert?
A Turkish masculine name derived from the Arabic word "murt" meaning "beloved".
How many people are called Mert in the UK?
A total of 610 babies have been registered as Mert across the 29 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.