At a glance
- In short
- Merla is an English name with a soft, melodic sound, primarily used for baby girls.
- U.S. rank 2025
- Not in the 2025 data · last seen 1966 (#6,564)
- Babies in 1966
- 5 (<0.01% of girls)
- Peak
- #1,862 in 1908
- First recorded
- 1908
Meaning of Merla
Originating from the English language, the name Merla has a soft and melodic sound. The name Merla is primarily used for baby girls. A variation of this name is Merle.
In terms of associations, Merla has been bestowed upon a modest number of newborns in the United States over the years. It gained some popularity in the mid-20th century but has since become less common. Although not widely used today, Merla carries a sense of vintage charm and uniqueness that may appeal to those seeking a distinct name for their baby girl.
How to pronounce Merla
English
- Pronounced MER-luh /mɜːr.lə/
Popularity of Merla in the U.S.
Merla was last recorded in the U.S. in 1966, ranked #6,564 with 5 babies. It peaked at #1,862 in 1908. It first appears in the records in 1908.
- Rank among U.S. girl names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Year-by-year table, 1908–1966 44 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 5 | 6,564 | back (not recorded in 1964–1965) |
| 1963 | 9 | 4,539 | back (not recorded in 1962) |
| 1961 | 7 | 5,309 | ▲ 387 |
| 1960 | 6 | 5,696 | back (not recorded in 1959) |
| 1958 | 10 | 3,925 | ▲ 993 |
| 1957 | 7 | 4,918 | ▼ 757 |
| 1956 | 9 | 4,161 | ▼ 92 |
| 1955 | 9 | 4,069 | ▼ 579 |
| 1954 | 11 | 3,490 | ▲ 736 |
| 1953 | 8 | 4,226 | ▼ 1,025 |
| 1952 | 12 | 3,201 | ▼ 264 |
| 1951 | 13 | 2,937 | ▲ 298 |
| 1950 | 11 | 3,235 | ▼ 721 |
| 1949 | 16 | 2,514 | ▲ 1,691 |
| 1948 | 7 | 4,205 | ▼ 1,307 |
| 1947 | 13 | 2,898 | ▼ 416 |
| 1946 | 15 | 2,482 | ▼ 143 |
| 1945 | 14 | 2,339 | ▲ 1,348 |
| 1944 | 7 | 3,687 | ▼ 1,240 |
| 1943 | 14 | 2,447 | ▼ 136 |
| 1942 | 15 | 2,311 | ▲ 1,248 |
| 1941 | 7 | 3,559 | ▼ 351 |
| 1940 | 8 | 3,208 | ▼ 472 |
| 1939 | 10 | 2,736 | ▼ 289 |
| 1938 | 12 | 2,447 | ▲ 123 |
| 1937 | 11 | 2,570 | ▼ 307 |
| 1936 | 13 | 2,263 | ▼ 57 |
| 1935 | 14 | 2,206 | ▲ 953 |
| 1934 | 8 | 3,159 | ▲ 594 |
| 1933 | 6 | 3,753 | ▼ 1,518 |
| 1932 | 14 | 2,235 | ▲ 515 |
| 1931 | 10 | 2,750 | ▲ 305 |
| 1930 | 9 | 3,055 | ▼ 468 |
| 1929 | 12 | 2,587 | ▲ 367 |
| 1928 | 10 | 2,954 | ▲ 921 |
| 1927 | 7 | 3,875 | ▲ 976 |
| 1926 | 5 | 4,851 | ▼ 1,735 |
| 1925 | 10 | 3,116 | ▲ 277 |
| 1924 | 9 | 3,393 | back (not recorded in 1922–1923) |
| 1921 | 6 | 4,464 | back (not recorded in 1920) |
| 1919 | 6 | 4,251 | back (not recorded in 1917–1918) |
| 1916 | 7 | 3,552 | ▲ 243 |
| 1915 | 6 | 3,795 | back (not recorded in 1909–1914) |
| 1908 | 6 | 1,862 | new |
Notable people named Merla
- Merla Zellerbach was an American author, columnist, editor and philanthropist known for her novels and charitable work in San Francisco.