Mercedes is a feminine given name of Spanish origin. It means "mercy" or "compassion". The name is derived from the Latin word "merces", which means "wages" or "reward". The name Mercedes was popularized by the French author Prosper Mérimée, who used it in his novella "Carmen".
The use of the name Mercedes became even more widespread after the Spanish car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz, named one of its early cars the "Mercédès", after the daughter of its founder, Emil Jellinek. The company later dropped the accent mark and adopted the name as its own.
In Spain, Mercedes is a traditional and popular given name for girls. It has also gained popularity in other Spanish-speaking countries and beyond. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Mercedes was one of the top 1000 names for girls born in the country between 2000 and 2019.
Overall, Mercedes is a beautiful name with a rich history and meaning behind it. It has been embraced by various cultures around the world and continues to be a popular choice for parents naming their daughters today.
The name Mercedez has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States, with notable peaks and troughs.
Between 1930 and 1983, the number of babies named Mercedez remained relatively low, fluctuating between 5 to 14 births per year. However, starting from 1984, there was a significant increase in the popularity of this name, with over 20 births recorded each year until 2007.
The years 1988 and 1989 marked a substantial rise in popularity for Mercedez, with 37 and 81 births respectively. This trend continued into the 1990s, reaching its peak in 1993 with 149 births. The name remained popular throughout the decade, with over 100 babies named Mercedez each year until 2005.
However, after 2005, the popularity of Mercedez began to decline steadily. There were fewer than 100 babies named Mercedez each year between 2006 and 2013. Since then, the number of births has continued to decrease, with only 17 births recorded in 2018 and 15 in 2023.
In total, over the years from 1930 to 2023, there have been 3037 babies named Mercedez born in the United States. While once a popular choice, it seems that this name has fallen out of favor in recent years, though it remains a classic and timeless option for parents seeking something unique yet familiar.