Mercedes
How to say it: mur-SAY-deez · /mərˈseɪdiz/
From Spanish 'merced' (mercy, grace), from Latin 'merces'. Title of the Virgin Mary: 'Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes'.
Mercedes was the 1,169th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 150 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1990s, its births are down about 38% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,401 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,169 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 150 |
| Share of births | 1 in 22,102 |
| Peak decade | 1990s |
| Change over 10 years | −38% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,401 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After its height in the 1990s, Mercedes has grown rarer. Now far from that peak, further slipping looks likely.
What goes with it
Smooth and breathy, said mur SAY deez, with an ease that travels well. Carmen pairs alongside it.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Mercedes is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Spanish.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Mercedes
- Mercedes Ruehl (born 1948)American actress
- Mercedes Moné (born 1992)American professional wrestler and actress
- Mercedes Sosa (1935–2009)Argentine singer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Mercedes is a globally dominant German luxury automotive brand (Mercedes-Benz); the car association dominates the name
Keep exploring
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