Meredith is a name of Welsh origin and means "great lord" or "severe lord". It is derived from the Welsh elements "mered" meaning "great" and "udd" meaning "lord". The name was borne by several historic figures, including Saint Meredith, who was a bishop in the 7th century.
The name Meredith has been used as both a male and female name throughout history. In the Middle Ages, it was more commonly used for boys. However, in modern times, it is predominantly used as a female name. Some famous individuals named Meredith include the Welsh poet Merlin (Meredudd ap Cyfwlch), who lived in the 10th century, and the American actress Meredith Vieira, who was born in the 20th century.
Overall, Meredith is a unique and historic name with a strong meaning that has been carried by notable individuals throughout history.
The name Merredith has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States, as indicated by the birth statistics provided.
In 1957, there were 5 babies named Merredith, marking the beginning of a period where the name was occasionally used. A decade later, in 1969, the number of newborns with this name increased slightly to 6.
The peak popularity for the name Merredith came in 1975 with 9 births that year. This suggests that there might have been some notable figure or trend influencing parents' naming choices during that time.
Following the peak, the number of babies named Merredith fluctuated between 6 and 8 per year from 1978 to 1980. Then, in the early 1980s, the popularity of the name began to decline, with only 5 births each year in 1981 and 1982.
Over the span of these years (1957-1982), a total of 50 babies were named Merredith in the United States. This provides an interesting snapshot of the name's popularity over time, showing that while it was not one of the most popular choices, it did have its moments of relative prominence.