Merrilee Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Merrilee is an English name that combines the cheerful connotation of 'Merry' with the suffix '-lee'. It means joyful or cheerful and has evolved from historical forms focusing on happiness. The name lacks biblical relevance and became popular in the mid-20th century. Variants include Merry and Merril, and it is currently viewed positively.
The name Merrilee is most popular in Washington, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Merrilee has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Merrilee' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6694th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1856th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1415th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3157th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9858th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 29526th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 30306th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Merrilee' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Merrilee"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɛrɪli/
Origin
English
Etymology
Merrilee is a modern invented name, likely derived from the combination of the name 'Merry' and the suffix '-lee'. The name 'Merry' itself has roots in Old English, meaning cheerful or joyful.
Meaning
joyful, cheerful
Language Evolution
Merry, Merry-lee
Historical Usage
Merrilee gained popularity in the mid-20th century as a feminine name, reflecting a trend for names that evoke happiness and positivity.
Variants & Derivatives
Merry, Merrie, Merril
Modern Popularity & Image
Merrilee is perceived as a cheerful and lighthearted name, often associated with warmth and friendliness.
Famous People
Merrilee McCommas, Merrilee Rush
Explore More Merrilee Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Merrilee"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Merrilee"
"Merrilee" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6694th of 9107 | 20 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1856th of 9204 | 356 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1415th of 12526 | 1,027 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3157th of 19264 | 349 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 9858th of 27321 | 98 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 29526th of 35406 | 11 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 30306th of 30306 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Merrilee" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Merrilee" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
69.92% 1081st/1546 |
69.73% 1085th/1556 |
- |
54.30% 840th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
51.10% 1138th/2227 |
72.02% 1750th/2430 |
- |
34.31% 952nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
100.00% 3518th/3518 |
65.53% 2650th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Merrilee"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Merrilee" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.