Home › Baby Names Directory › Merica
Merica
How to Pronounce Merica
Pronounced MEHR-ih-kah /ˈmɛr.ɪ.kə/Medium
Meaning: Merica reads two ways: as a clipped, affectionate form of America, itself named for the explorer Amerigo Vespucci, or as a variant of Erica, from the Old Norse for 'ever-ruler.'Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Merica can be read as a short form of America or as a variant of Erica. Both routes are plausible, and records show scattered use across the twentieth century without a single clear source.
The name was always rare, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak around 1976. A woman named Merica then is in her late forties today, with a name that carries a quiet American echo.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Merica…
Explore names like Merica
Frequently Asked
What does the name Merica mean?
It is a short form of America or a variant of Erica, meaning 'ever-ruler.'
How do you pronounce Merica?
It is said MEHR-ih-kah /ˈmɛr.ɪ.kə/, three syllables with the stress on the first.
Is Merica a boy or girl name?
Merica is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Merica?
It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the mid-nineteen-seventies.