The baby name Merli is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced English: MER-lee (/ˈmɜːrli/ or /ˈmɝli/),Catalan: mer-LÍ (/mərˈli/).
The baby name Merli is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced English: MER-lee (/ˈmɜːrli/ or /ˈmɝli/),Catalan: mer-LÍ (/mərˈli/).
Merli is Catalan, Latin in Origin.
Merli is predominantly an Estonian feminine given name that rose to local popularity in the late 20th century. Its shape follows a common Estonian -li pattern, and many interpret it as a blend of meri, "sea," with the diminutive-like ending -li, yielding the evocative sense "sea-born" or "of the sea." In practice it also functions as a short form or variant of Merilin (the Estonian form of Marilyn) and of Merle.
Beyond Estonia, the name connects etymologically with blackbird imagery: Merle in English and French comes from Old French merle, from Latin merula "blackbird," and Italian Merli is a surname meaning "blackbirds." This lends Merli the additional poetic meaning "blackbird." Related forms and spellings include Merle, Merilin, Merily, Merlii, Merlyn, Merla, and Merlina; common nicknames are Meri and Mer. Usage today remains most concentrated in Estonia, and it should not be confused with Catalan Merlí (Merlin).
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE | 0 | #33 | 5 | 1,051 | |
| ID | Girls | 0 | #102 | 1 | 3,319 |
| EC | 0 | #120 | 2 | 2,502 | |
| EE | Girls | 0 | #120 | 19 | 1,888 |
| RS | Girls | 0 | #137 | 1 | 1,651 |
| LU | Girls | 0 | #186 | 5 | 4,850 |
| RU | 0 | #194 | 1 | 3,641 | |
| LU | Boys | 0 | #220 | 1 | 4,970 |
| AL | Girls | 0 | #225 | 3 | 4,141 |
| AO | Boys | 0 | #249 | 1 | 5,568 |
| EC | Girls | 0 | #255 | 4 | 3,650 |
| SG | 0 | #281 | 2 | 11,010 | |
| TW | Girls | 0 | #288 | 2 | 8,139 |
| GT | 0 | #304 | 11 | 5,948 | |
| PE | 0 | #328 | 2 | 6,350 | |
| GH | Girls | 0 | #337 | 1 | 6,973 |
| JO | Girls | 0 | #339 | 1 | 7,570 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #342 | 2 | 15,378 |
| BR | 0 | #360 | 1 | 5,969 | |
| MU | Girls | 0 | #362 | 1 | 8,539 |
| UY | Boys | 0 | #413 | 1 | 5,922 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #424 | 1 | 15,987 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #428 | 2 | 13,098 |
| AR | Boys | 0 | #482 | 2 | 7,628 |
| GT | Girls | 0 | #487 | 19 | 7,500 |
| GT | Boys | 0 | #498 | 2 | 7,625 |
| PA | Boys | 0 | #505 | 1 | 9,305 |
| CO | 0 | #510 | 1 | 7,768 | |
| PA | Girls | 0 | #515 | 4 | 9,861 |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #520 | 4 | 11,913 |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #525 | 2 | 12,621 |
| UY | Girls | 0 | #536 | 1 | 6,731 |
| CM | Girls | 0 | #558 | 3 | 11,671 |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #558 | 4 | 19,177 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #573 | 1 | 11,342 |
| CM | Boys | 0 | #574 | 2 | 12,054 |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #593 | 5 | 20,968 |
| AR | Girls | 0 | #623 | 8 | 8,289 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #631 | 2 | 18,916 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #645 | 1 | 11,648 |
| BO | Girls | 0 | #649 | 3 | 9,488 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #650 | 1 | 16,104 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #670 | 287 | 14,861 |
| Finland | Girls | 2026 | #729 | 10 | 3,895 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #785 | 1 | 12,213 |
| CL | Girls | 0 | #910 | 6 | 14,098 |
| PE | Boys | 0 | #921 | 6 | 14,506 |
| BR | Girls | 0 | #930 | 12 | 12,708 |
| United States | Girls | 2006 | #937 | 6 | 10,031 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #942 | 137 | 16,140 |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #978 | 4 | 15,656 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,007 | 8 | 25,931 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #1,029 | 5 | 16,355 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #1,070 | 3 | 24,821 |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,133 | 51 | 17,781 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,182 | 1 | 25,439 |
| MA | 0 | #1,199 | 1 | 20,986 | |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,236 | 1 | 25,928 |
| TR | 0 | #1,253 | 2 | 19,440 | |
| IT | Girls | 0 | #1,422 | 25 | 9,415 |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,433 | 39 | 10,046 |
Merli is popular in 40 countries — most recent births per country:
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