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Home › Baby Names Directory › Merrick

Merrick

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAIR-ik /ˈmɛr.ɪk/Low

Meaning: Ruler of the sea; Moorish personLow

In 30 seconds: Merrick is a Welsh and English surname name meaning ruler of the sea or a form of Maurice/Meurig. Strong and distinctive, it has a modern sound with ancient roots and fits naturally in the category of sharp, two-syllable names for boys.
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Origin LowWelsh, Germanic
MeaningRuler of the sea; Moorish person
U.S. rank (2024)#1219 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births165 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,615

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201819052024

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

Merrick derives from the Welsh personal name Meurig, a Welsh form of Maurice (from Latin Mauritius, meaning Moorish). As a surname and given name it has been used in Wales and England for many centuries.

Merrick has grown as a given name in the United States in the 21st century, fitting the trend of strong, sharp two-syllable masculine names. It has an appealing mix of Old World history and modern sound.

Did you know? The word Merrick was also historically used in English to refer to someone from Morocco (a Moor), connecting the name to the broader medieval European encounters with North African culture.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Merrick

Variations

MerricMerrikMyrick

Nicknames

MerRick

Famous Bearers

  • ★Merrick Garland (b. 1952)
    American lawyer and jurist who served as the 86th United States Attorney General from 2021 to 2025

If you like Merrick…

Broderick— Same -erick surname-name
Derrick— Same -rrick ending masculine name
Endrick— echoes that soft -ck sound
Derick— a fellow Germanic choice
Kendrick— another Welsh name

Explore names like Merrick

By thememodernsurname-nametwo-syllablegermanicwelshstrong
By meaningSea / WaterRoyal / Noble

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Merrick mean?

Merrick means ruler of the sea from the Welsh Meurig, a Welsh form of Maurice.

Is Merrick a Welsh name?

Yes, Merrick derives from the Welsh personal name Meurig.

How do you pronounce Merrick?

Merrick is pronounced MAIR-ik with two syllables.

What names are similar to Merrick?

Similar names include Garrick, Broderick, and Derrick.

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