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Merita
How to Pronounce Merita
Pronounced muh-REE-tuh /mษหri.tษ/Medium
Meaning: Merita rests on the Latin meritus ('deserving, earned, worthy'), giving 'of merit'; it also works as an extended form of Rita (from Margarita, 'pearl'), which shares its ending.Low
Popularity in the U.S. ยท SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880โpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Merita draws on the Latin meritus, 'deserving' or 'earned', the same root behind the English word merit. Many families would also have heard it as a fuller, softer Rita, from Margarita ('pearl').
It stayed rare throughout, cresting quietly in the nineteen-fifties before drifting out of use by the century's end. It has not been swept up in the current vintage revival and remains an uncommon choice.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Merita mean?
Merita comes from Latin meritus, 'deserving' or 'of merit', and is also read as an elaboration of Rita.
How do you pronounce Merita?
It's said muh-REE-tuh /mษหri.tษ/ โ three syllables, stress on the middle.
Is Merita a boy or girl name?
Merita is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Merita?
Merita is a rare, mid-century name that has seen little use since.