Meredith is a female given name of Welsh origin. It means "great sea" or "marine" in Welsh. The name is derived from the element "mor" meaning sea and "eithr" meaning great.
The name Meredith has been used for centuries, with its earliest known usage dating back to medieval Wales. However, it was not until the 19th century that the name began to gain popularity outside of Wales. Today, Meredith is a popular name in English-speaking countries around the world.
Some notable people who have borne the name Meredith include the American poet and activist Angela Carter, who wrote under the pen name Angela Meredith, and Meredith Vieira, an American journalist and television personality known for hosting the talk show The View and the quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
The name Merideth has a fascinating history of usage in the United States over the past century. From 1916 to 2023, there have been a total of 1755 births registered with this name.
The name's popularity began to rise significantly during World War II, starting in 1942 when it peaked at 9 births that year and reached its first double-digit figure the following year with 10 births. The trend continued into the post-war era, with a notable spike in 1946, seeing a total of 17 births – the highest number ever recorded for this name.
The 1950s and 1960s saw fluctuations in popularity, with some years seeing fewer than 10 births while others reached double digits. However, it was during these decades that Merideth experienced its most consistent usage, maintaining an average of around 12 births per year between 1957 and 1968.
The late 1960s and early 1970s marked a period of significant growth for the name Merideth. Between 1969 and 1973, there were an average of 42 births per year, with peak years including 1970 (43 births), 1971 (57 births), and 1972 (61 births). This period of increased popularity can perhaps be attributed to the cultural shifts and changing attitudes towards naming during this era.
Despite its earlier boom, Merideth's popularity declined throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s, with an average of around 30 births per year. However, there were still several notable years within these decades, such as 1985 (44 births), 1992 (30 births), and 1997 (32 births).
The early 2000s marked a return to lower birth numbers for the name Merideth, with most years seeing fewer than 30 births. This trend has continued into recent years, with only one year – 2005 – seeing more than 20 births since then.
In conclusion, while Merideth's popularity has ebbed and flowed over the past century, it has remained a consistently used name in the United States throughout that time. Its highest points of usage can be seen during World War II, the late 1960s and early 1970s, and its lowest points were recorded primarily during the latter half of the twentieth century. Despite these fluctuations, Merideth continues to appear on birth records today, indicating that there is still a place for this name in modern America.