UK girl's name
Merve
A feminine name of Turkish origin meaning "fresh and tender".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Merve is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Merve popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 12 births.
This profile covers 146 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 145 living people in the UK are called Merve. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Merve ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 12 girls were registered as Merve.
- • About 145 living people in the UK are estimated to have Merve as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5493
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2016
12 births
Estimated living
145
2026
Meaning
What does Merve mean?
The name Merve has its origins in the Turkish language and culture. It is derived from the Persian word "marveh," which means "pearl" or "gem." The name has been in use for centuries in Turkey and other regions influenced by Persian and Turkish cultures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Merve can be found in the 11th century Diwan Lughat al-Turk, a comprehensive dictionary of Turkic languages compiled by Mahmud al-Kashgari. In this work, the name is listed as a name given to girls, reflecting its long-standing usage in the region.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the name Merve. One such individual was Merve Kavakçı, a Turkish politician and activist who was the first woman to wear a headscarf in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. She was born in 1968 and served as a member of parliament from 1999 to 2002.
Another prominent figure with the name Merve was Merve Aydın, a Turkish novelist and screenwriter born in 1970. She is best known for her novel "Mutluluk" (Happiness), which won the prestigious Yunus Nadi Novel Award in 2005.
In the world of sports, Merve Dağdelen is a notable name. Born in 1994, she is a Turkish volleyball player who has represented Turkey in several international competitions, including the European Championship and the Olympic Games.
Moving to the realm of music, Merve Özbey is a Turkish singer and songwriter born in 1993. She gained popularity in Turkey after participating in the talent show "O Ses Türkiye" (The Voice of Turkey) in 2013.
Lastly, Merve Koç is a Turkish actress born in 1990. She has appeared in several popular Turkish television series and films, including "Güneşi Beklerken" (Waiting for the Sun) and "Çalı Kuşu" (The Nightingale).
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Merve, reflecting its enduring popularity and cultural significance within the Turkish and Persian spheres of influence.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Merve over time
The chart below shows babies named Merve registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Merve, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Merve by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Merve 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 | #5493 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4115 | 57 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2740 | 57 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2240 | 29 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Merve
- 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
Merve: questions and answers
How popular is the name Merve in the UK right now?
In 2020, Merve was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Merve most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 12 babies registered as Merve in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Merve?
A feminine name of Turkish origin meaning "fresh and tender".
How many people are called Merve in the UK?
A total of 146 babies have been registered as Merve across the 23 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.