Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Meredith

Meredith is the anglicized form of an old Welsh masculine name Maredudd. The etymology of Maredudd is not entirely certain. The last element is derived from the Olde Welsh “iudd” meaning “lord” (as in a chief, not God); the uncertainly exists with the first element. It is believed that the name probably means “great lord”. Outside of Wales (where Meredith remains masculine), the name has since transformed into a female name. This may have been influenced by British author Enid Bagnold’s popular 1935 novel “National Velvet” wherein she names one of the Brown sisters Meredith. The name is not particularly popular in the 21st century.

All About the Baby Name – Meredith

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME MEREDITH

The number one personality is a leader - strong and competitive. They are willing to initiate action and take risks. One personalities work hard toward their endeavors and have the ability to apply their creative and innovative thinking skills with strong determination. They believe in their ability to succeed and are too stubborn to be hindered by obstacles. Ones meet obstacles head-on with such mental vigor and energy that you better step aside. They resent taking orders, so don't try telling them what to do either. This is an intensely active personality, but they are also known as starters rather than finishers. They have a propensity to become bored and will move quickly to the next project if not properly challenged.  They are the ones to think up and put into action new and brilliant ideas, but they are not the ones to stick around and manage them. This personality has an enthusiastic and pioneering spirit. They are distinctly original.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME MEREDITH

Not surprisingly, Meredith has a longer history as a masculine name in the United States; although it was never a particular favorite. In fact, 1954 marks the last year Meredith showed up on the male naming charts. In the meantime, Meredith became a girl’s name in America in the early 20th century (1910) and surpassed her male counterpart by the 1940s. The height of Meredith’s usage for girls was definitely during the 1980s when she hovered around 150th place in terms of popularity (a pretty respectable position). However, the name has been on a downward trend since the 1990s and is no longer a fashionable choice. The only exception was in 2006, the year following the debut of a popular TV series called “Grey’s Anatomy” in which Ellen Pompeo plays the show’s protagonist Dr. Meredith Grey. The influence of this character’s name on the charts would be brief, however, as Meredith is once again declining in usage. While Meredith is no longer a stylish pick by today’s naming standards, many parents might find this name attractive for its current underuse. There are many things appealing about this name. Since it’s technically unisex, Meredith conveys a sense of power and strength. It’s not frilly and girly, but smart and sturdy. The nickname Merrie is both happy and upbeat, while Meredith is elegant and mature.

Quick Facts

ON MEREDITH

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

3

RANKING POPULARITY:

654

PRONUNCIATION:

MER-ə-dith

SIMPLE MEANING:

Great lord

Characteristics

OF MEREDITH

Independent

Individualistic

Ambitious

Strong-willed

Inventive

Successful

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Meredith

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME MEREDITH

Janice Meredith is the heroine of Paul Leicester Ford’s 1899 historical novel, Janice Meredith: A Story of the American Revolution. The teen-aged Janice is the fun-loving and privileged daughter of Tory sympathizers on the eve of the American Revolution, who falls in love with one of Washington’s men. Now there’s a dilemma. The book was adapted as a play in 1900 and then as a silent film in 1924, starring the delicious Marion Davies as Janice. The love story is played out against the background of a significant historical era, but the unique and independent character of Janice is riveting enough to stand on its own.

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Meredith

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME MEREDITH

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Meredith


Popular Songs

ON MEREDITH

We cannot find any popular or well-known songs with the name of Meredith


Famous People

NAMED MEREDITH

Meredith Vieira (news anchor), Meredith Baxter (actress)
Meredith Brooks (singer/songwriter)
Meredith Kercher (Perugia, Italy murder victim)

Children of Famous People

NAMED MEREDITH

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Meredith

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME MEREDITH

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Meredith