Merci

Primarily a girl's name of French origin with 947 recorded births. Also given to 53 boys.

Girl's name| Also boy's#4426 in 2024Declining

Meaning & Origin

Merc (a Mercedes-Benz car)

Merci is a girl's and boy's baby name of French origin, meaning 'mercy' or 'thank you' — one of the most recognized words in the French language. As a given name, it combines the elegance of French with the warmth of the virtue name tradition.

Merci sits at the crossroads of the popular mercy virtue-name trend and French-inspired names, making it a sophisticated yet sweet choice for a daughter.

EtymologyShow more

The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Merci's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Merci follows that feminine pattern.

Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Merci's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.

At a Glance

#4426

Current Rank

947

Total births

Since 1963

2019

Peak year

69 births

Compare Merci with another name

Popularity Over Time

Merci climbed 7944 spots in the last 20 years — from #12370 to #4426.

First appeared: 1963Peak: 2019 (69 births)Current: #4426

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Merci
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	242	#3407	▼
2010s	365	#4615	▲
2000s	161	#8029	▲
1990s	44	#12919	—
1980s	46	#10226	▼
1970s	64	#8641	▲
1960s	25	#5337	—

The Story of Merci

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2019, Merci is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Merci are most likely born between 2009 and 2024.

How rare is Merci?

Only about 1 in every 112,500 babies born in 2024 was named Merci — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1963, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 365 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.

Merci by the numbers

Would fill 20 school buses
Meeting one Merci per day would take 2.6 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(52 years, 1963–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Merci
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	32	#4426	-17 (-34.7%)
2023	49	#3312	-17 (-25.8%)
2022	66	#2652	+18 (37.5%)
2021	48	#3325	+1 (2.1%)
2020	47	#3318	-22 (-31.9%)
2019	69	#2556	+18 (35.3%)
2018	51	#3190	+4 (8.5%)
2017	47	#3372	+2 (4.4%)
2016	45	#3503	+13 (40.6%)
2015	32	#4464	-2 (-5.9%)
2014	34	#4332	+8 (30.8%)
2013	26	#5259	+7 (36.8%)
2012	19	#6784	-4 (-17.4%)
2011	23	#5874	+4 (21.1%)
2010	19	#6815	-4 (-17.4%)
2009	23	#6027	+5 (27.8%)
2008	18	#7292	+6 (50.0%)
2007	12	#9971	-3 (-20.0%)
2006	15	#8114	-7 (-31.8%)
2005	22	#5722	+14 (175.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Merci as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Merci has also been given to 53 boys in the U.S. since 2018.

#7086

Current rank

Total births

2024

Peak year

Compare Merci as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merci a boy's or girl's name?

Merci is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 53 recorded births.

When was Merci most popular?

Merci reached its peak popularity in 2019 with 69 births that year. It is currently ranked #4426 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Merci?

Merci is currently ranked #4426 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 947 babies since 1963.

Can Merci be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Merci is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #4426. As a boy's name, it ranks #7086.

Explore More

By Length5-letter names By OriginFrench names By EndingNames in -i TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1963–2024