Merliah is a unique and distinctive female given name with an unclear origin and no widely accepted meaning. There are several theories about its origins, but none have been definitively proven.
One theory suggests that Merliah may be of Scottish origin, derived from the surname "Murlach," which means "from the round hill." However, there is little evidence to support this claim, and it is not widely recognized as a valid origin for the name.
Another theory proposes that Merliah could be a variant spelling of the French name "Melisande," which means "dark" or "shadow." This theory is also unsupported by concrete evidence, and it is unclear whether there is any connection between Merliah and Melisande.
A more plausible origin for Merliah may be as an invented name created by parents who wanted to give their daughter a unique and memorable moniker. In recent years, there has been an increase in the popularity of made-up names, particularly among celebrities and other public figures. It is possible that Merliah was created following this trend.
Despite its unclear origins and lack of widely accepted meaning, Merliah has gained some popularity as a given name for girls. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Merliah first appeared on the list of popular baby names in 2014, when it was given to seven newborn girls. Since then, its usage has remained relatively low but steady, with between five and ten babies named Merliah each year.
Overall, while the origins and meaning of Merliah remain uncertain, this distinctive name continues to be chosen by parents who appreciate its unique sound and lack of traditional associations.
The name Merliah has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States. In 2012, there were 14 babies named Merliah, which increased to 16 in 2013. However, the numbers decreased significantly to just 6 births each in 2014 and again in 2017.
There was a slight uptick in 2018 with 7 births, followed by a notable increase to 17 births in 2019. The name's popularity seemed to stabilize in recent years, with 8 babies named Merliah each year from 2021 to 2023.
Overall, since 2012, there have been a total of 90 babies named Merliah born in the United States. While its popularity has fluctuated over time, it remains a distinctive and unique name choice for parents seeking something different for their children.