Home › Baby Names Directory › Merinda
Merinda
How to Pronounce Merinda
Pronounced muh-RIN-duh /məˈrɪn.də/Medium
Meaning: Merinda is a variant of Miranda or Marinda, from the Latin mirandus, 'worthy of admiration' or 'wonderful', the name Shakespeare coined for a heroine of The Tempest. The Mer- spelling is a folk reshaping; the name is also, separately, an Australian Aboriginal word, but the Miranda route best explains its American use.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
Merinda is best traced to Miranda, by way of the folk variant Marinda, from the Latin mirandus, 'worthy of admiration' or 'wonderful', a name Shakespeare created for his heroine in The Tempest. The Mer- spelling reflects everyday pronunciation. The same string of letters is also an Australian Aboriginal word, but American use points to the Miranda family. It stayed rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year.
Its small high fell in the late nineteen-sixties, so a Merinda from then would be in her fifties today. Melodic and gently exotic, it carries Miranda's lovely 'to be admired' meaning in a softer shape, and shortens to Rinda or Mindy; standard Miranda has always been far more common.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Merinda…
Explore names like Merinda
Frequently Asked
What does the name Merinda mean?
It is a variant of Miranda, from the Latin mirandus, meaning 'worthy of admiration' or 'wonderful'.
How do you pronounce Merinda?
It's said muh-RIN-duh /məˈrɪn.də/, three syllables, with the stress on the second.
Is Merinda a boy or girl name?
Merinda is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Merinda?
It has always been rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year, peaking in the late nineteen-sixties.