Merridee is a unique and distinctive name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "merrie," which means happy or merry. The name Merridee has been popular in England for centuries, but it was not until the late 19th century that it began to gain widespread use as a given name.
The earliest known record of the name Merridee is from the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272), when it appears in a document as the surname of a man named Richard Merridee. Over time, the name evolved from a surname to a given name, and today it is often used as a female name.
Despite its English origins, Merridee has not been particularly popular in England. Instead, it has been more commonly used in other English-speaking countries, such as the United States. In the US, Merridee first appeared on the Social Security Administration's list of the 1000 most popular names for girls in 1926, and it remained relatively uncommon until the 1970s, when its popularity began to rise.
Today, Merridee is still not one of the most common names in English-speaking countries. However, it continues to be used as a given name by families who appreciate its unique sound and historic origins. Overall, Merridee is an interesting and distinctive name with a rich history and a charming meaning that has captured the hearts of parents for generations.
The name Merridee has a unique distribution of popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1943 and 1957, there were five babies named Merridee each year, except for 1952 to 1956 when no babies were given that name. This consistent pattern shows that while Merridee was not a widely used name during this period, it did have a steady level of popularity among parents who chose it for their daughters.
Over the course of these fifteen years, a total of twenty-five girls were named Merridee in the United States. Although this number is relatively small compared to more popular names, it indicates that there was a consistent preference for the name Merridee during this era.
It's interesting to note that all five years with births registered have at least one-year gap between them. This suggests that parents who chose the name Merridee were not necessarily following current trends or influenced by recent popular culture. Instead, they may have been drawn to the uniqueness and individuality of the name, as it was rarely used during these years.
In conclusion, while Merridee may not have been one of the most common names in the United States between 1943 and 1957, its consistent popularity over this period indicates that many parents chose it deliberately for their daughters. The unique distribution of births also suggests that those who chose Merridee did so because they valued its distinctiveness rather than following trends.