Comments
Meaning
Usage
Pronunciation
Famous
Impression
Other
Meredith Baxter-Dimly is the name of the mean popular girl from the live-action Bratz movie. She is rich and spoiled, to the point where she is having a second sweet sixteen.
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I adore this name; it gives me the impression of a strong, funny woman with golden/honey hair and golden heart who takes care of her loved ones.
She surrounds herself with vibrant colors and flowers present in house decor and/or clothing.
It's a mature name but also delicate. Very motherly.
If I were to use it on a man, I would write it "Merdith" with the end making "thf" sound, but I don't have anything against Meredith on a man.
I think people's dislike of it being a male name comes from today's rare use of it on boys (including media), making it sound feminine.
Maybe if I met a guy named that, it would change a bit this golden woman vision.
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She surrounds herself with vibrant colors and flowers present in house decor and/or clothing.
It's a mature name but also delicate. Very motherly.
If I were to use it on a man, I would write it "Merdith" with the end making "thf" sound, but I don't have anything against Meredith on a man.
I think people's dislike of it being a male name comes from today's rare use of it on boys (including media), making it sound feminine.
Maybe if I met a guy named that, it would change a bit this golden woman vision.
2
Meredith is a powerful and cool-sounding name, both in meaning and in the way it sounds, and I think this name has a soft, gentle, and smart charm. So I love this name.
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I always thought this was a biblical name due to its similarities with Elizabeth and other biblical names, but I was shocked to learn that this was a Welsh male name.
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Makes me think of fields of lavender.
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Meredith Nicholson (1866-1947): author, politician, and diplomat; part of the Golden Age of Literature in Indiana.
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I never liked this name until I learned that it was originally a name for men, and that it’s from Wales. Meredith just doesn’t look or sound nice for women!
Until now, I thought it could be related to the name Mercedes and had a root in Latin. I like that it’s an original name to the British Isles.
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Until now, I thought it could be related to the name Mercedes and had a root in Latin. I like that it’s an original name to the British Isles.
-5
When I was born, I was given the first name Meredith after a male ancestor a little ways back in my family tree. This proved to be an oddly appropriate choice on my parents’ part: decades later, I came out to them as a transgender man. I go by a nickname with friends and coworkers, but I can’t see myself changing my full and legal name. I’m happy with it, and I can’t think of a name that suits me better.
In my opinion, Meredith is a fine name regardless of gender. It’d be cool to see a fellow my age or younger with the same name as me. I’d like it if more names like mine could end up being truly unisex instead of just abandoned entirely as boys’ names. I guess by keeping it, I’m reaffirming it as a man’s name.
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In my opinion, Meredith is a fine name regardless of gender. It’d be cool to see a fellow my age or younger with the same name as me. I’d like it if more names like mine could end up being truly unisex instead of just abandoned entirely as boys’ names. I guess by keeping it, I’m reaffirming it as a man’s name.
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For boys, the correct pronunciation is “mer-RED-ith,” not “MER-ah-dith” and the nickname is Reddy or Red.
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To Balma Meredith. I have been looking all night where I found your comment about the "Welsh Pronunciation of Meredith". I took a cut and paste of what you said but, I didn't have a link to it. Please help me, I have for days been looking everywhere at the sound of the pronunciation of Meredith. I have seen and heard it before, the way you said it. Do you know where I can locate it? Heh, I will start pronouncing Meredith, the way you stated it. "Me-RED-ith". Do you know where on the internet it will sound out the way you stated how the Welsh Pronounce it? Thank you "Balma Meredith".
Alvin Meredith.
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Alvin Meredith.
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Meredith is one of my favorite names. I mostly hear it used for adults, but it doesn't sound outdated like Karen or Susan. I love the nickname Mer! Also I prefer it for girls, but maybe that's just because I'm used to it for girls and I've never heard it used on a boy. (gender is a social construct anyway!) also, Meredith is the name of the antagonist in one of my favorite movies, The Parent Trap, so the fact that I dislike a character with this name makes it an even bigger deal that I absolutely ADORE this name! Also! I totally want to name one of my future kids Meredith!
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Its okay. Meredith Palmer sort of put me off it though. Lol.
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NOT masculine AT ALL.
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What about this is masculine?
I think Meredith is cute for a female!
I think it's so cute for a little girl!
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I think Meredith is cute for a female!
I think it's so cute for a little girl!
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Unusual and interesting name! Not too popular. Feels like one of those names that is heard a lot, but actually not many people have it. Meredith is a quality name! I like it!
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I think it's boring.
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One of my favourite names.
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My eldest daughter's first name is Meredith, we wanted an uncommon name that wasn't too weird, and it fit the bill perfectly. Her main nickname is Merry, although we call her all sorts! She's 11 and loves it, although she gets a bit irritated when people mishear Merry and think her name is Mary, but it's not a big deal. She occasionally says she wishes she had a different name, but I think we all think that sometimes!
She can be quite serious (and nerdy) but she's got a wicked sense of humour!
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She can be quite serious (and nerdy) but she's got a wicked sense of humour!
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This is my name and I just think it's weird but now I see comments and I'm like yas, I'm better than everybody.
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My birth name is Meredith. I personally never liked it. I grew up with everyone calling me mere Meri or affectionately mere-bear. When I left for college I changed it to Mera (rhymes with Sarah). My racist mother lost her mind when she met an older Black man whose name was Meredith shortly after I was born. My family in Wales all thought I was a boy. Also growing up in the 90s the only associations were the performer of the song “B*tch” and then the villain from the parent trap. I totally agree with the comments on here saying it sounds stuck up. It’s also not easy for a lot of people to say, and often was misheard as Mary Beth or Marilyn.
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Sounds more like a geographical feature than a person's name.
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This name sounds both beautiful and strong.
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My name is Meredithe. Since it is spelled with an "e" in the end I personally hardy ever see it spelled right. That is what personally makes the name so unique to me. I love that about my name. I am now 16 and there are not a lot of Meredith's out there. That also makes it cool.
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My name is Meredith. I am 48 years old, and I was born the early 70s, and I love my name! I get compliments about my name all the time. My Mom heard my name from a 1970s Soap Opera.
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I LOVE Meredith on boys, like it is originally.
I don't live in Wales, but I'd totally use this on a boy.
I don't find it nice on a girl, and loathe boy names on girls.
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I don't live in Wales, but I'd totally use this on a boy.
I don't find it nice on a girl, and loathe boy names on girls.
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Such a pretty name! I personally prefer it more for a girl but the name itself is wonderful! And sea lord is an interesting meaning.
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Meredith is a very beautiful name. One of the prettiest names ever. It has a gorgeous, old-fashioned, soft and feminine sound to it. Very elegant and classy. I love how saying the name "encourages" you to smile as well. To me, the prettiest girls' names are the ones that you have to smile while saying them. I know it originally used to be a boy's name a LONG time ago, but it's been a girl's name since at least 1870 (and more common on girls than boys since 1890) and that's enough time to become a traditional female name.
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My name is Meredith and I've always been pleased with it. Even as a kid growing up in upstate NY (I'm 38 now), I knew it was a little more elegant than the popular names 80s kids typically had. I find that it has fit well with all of the stages of my life so far, never sounding babyish, fussy, or like I had self-indulgent parents who tried to be too trendy or creative. I don't often encounter other people named Meredith. When I do, they're typically my age or a little bit younger and they vary greatly in looks. It's common for sales people to comment on my name when I present my ID, usually with something like "I haven't heard that name in years," or "I love your name so much". The only trouble I have with it is when I have to give my name for food orders and reservations because most people have no idea how to spell it correctly. So, sometimes I just say that my name is Mary, and secretly think to myself that I'm glad it's really a little bit fancier. So, in short, I really like the name and I've been proud to be called by it. Even my husband says he's proud to tell people his wife's name because it's distinct, yet soft and elegant.
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*BARF* This has got to be one of the ugliest names that exist. It’s way up there with Agatha and Bertha. I can’t imagine an attractive woman named this. Only an old, ugly, harsh woman.
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Dr. Meredith Rodney McKay, portrayed by David Hewlett on the SciFi network show "Stargate: Atlantis," is probably the most well-known male bearer in contemporary entertainment.
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Meredith Quill is Starlord’s mother.
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Meredith Grace Duggar is the daughter of Josh and Anna Duggar.
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I prefer Meredith on a boy and my favourite spelling is the Welsh Meredydd.
This is because the meaning seems too masculine plus Meredith (f) seems a kind of strange mix between Mary and Edith. No way!
I love Edith alone though.
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This is because the meaning seems too masculine plus Meredith (f) seems a kind of strange mix between Mary and Edith. No way!
I love Edith alone though.
-3
According to howmanyofme.com, there are five people in the U.S. named Meredith Meredith.
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My first name is Meredith, as it was for my father and grandfather. Meredith has been a man's given name in my family since some time in the 19th century. I have ancestors from Virginia and Tennessee whose surname was Meredith about five generations ago, so it's truly a family name rather than something we just pulled out of nowhere. Most people think it sounds "pretty" these days, and therefore assume it's a woman's name, but I still find it strange to hear it used for females. I think it's fun to see the shock on peoples' faces when they call for "Meredith" (in a medical waiting room for example) expecting a woman, but get a tall man!
Given its 1400 year history as a masculine name, it should be listed here as unisex rather than feminine-only.
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Given its 1400 year history as a masculine name, it should be listed here as unisex rather than feminine-only.
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My name was Meredith and I absolutely hated it. I have had nothing but bad experiences with the name. So the day I turned 18 I got filing papers to change my name. Meredith is now my middle name, as I didn’t have one before. Just a warning to anyone who is thinking of naming their daughter this, I really wouldn’t unless you want them to face endless misspellings, bullying, and mispronunciations. I ended up shortening it to Marie the whole time I was in school.
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My name is Meredith Denise and it's wonderful! My nickname is Merdi. I am 46 years old and I love hearing my dad say say it! We just lost our 98 year old Nana last week. She was Hispanic and couldn't ever wrap her tongue around it so it sounded like Merdan. Haha. On my Christmas gifts she would write it as Merdin. We never corrected her, either.
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On behalf of the usage of Meredith, I think it should say Feminine & Masculine.
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My sister is another Meredith Kay! What's up with that middle name paired with Meredith? She was born in the sixties when it was uncommon, she is unique and always liked it. It doesn't sound feminine nor masculine to me, but I think it needs a strong bearer to make it work. I rather like her name.
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Meredith Grey, the title character from Grey's Anatomy.
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It's interesting how similar the experiences are with this name. Like people calling you Merry dah, or murdah, or Murder She Wrote (A popular 90's song).
However, my experience is even more weird, interesting (to me anyways) and was pretty tough often growing up. I was born in the 70's in the US of African decent and my mother chose to name me a name that didn't "match" me culturally (which for many translates to the color of a person).
However, over the years after all the teasing and asking why I was named an old white lady's name or a boy's name. (The old white lady's name always threw me for a loop though and kinda hurt because I wasn't old nor white, but it was asked in a half joking half serious way, which translated negatively to me.) Adults would actually ask me that (not white of course) As if I came out the womb and told the Dr./my mother, Hey guys I got a good one, Meredith, it's money in the bank go ahead and put it on the Birth Certificate.
I'm like noooo… Gladys named me that why you not asking her? It was crazy but on the other side of the coin many white people react as if that is the most shocking thing they've heard. I had a Triage nurse (she was white) call my name at a drs. appointment and when I stood I swear the lady staggered back a little with her mouth agape. I was like damn, is it that serious?! It's my name- I love it but at the end of the day it is just a name, I mean really... She pissed me off that day I felt it was very rude, but it was what it was.
Anyways, I've never thought Meredith equated to old & white, but I kinda didn't equate it to anyone that looked like me (outside opinions helped that)? Just pretty much thought my mom was sipping a bit or smoking a bunch, it waaaasss the 70's? As I got older I wondered why she did name me Meredith and where she got it? Because I started to get to the point that I felt it wasn't fair, with teasing and many times mispronouncing or correcting the spelling made that feeling worse.
So I asked her at a really young age and I thought she said at the time, it had something to do with water but when I asked again many years later she told me NO, she said she named me after a Black Panther named Charles Meredith (My father's name was Charles too). He was one of her favorite members and she thought the name Meredith was pretty.
When I heard that (and this may offend people) I was proud because though it was a man's last name, it was attached to a person who was tied to me culturally, which made me more confident (not that I hated my name, but it caused some issues) with being A-American and named Meredith. I also like that my name means Great Lord or Lord because so many people made me feel that Meredith was a weak name, yet I've found over the years that Meredith has been given to many people that have done great things.
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However, my experience is even more weird, interesting (to me anyways) and was pretty tough often growing up. I was born in the 70's in the US of African decent and my mother chose to name me a name that didn't "match" me culturally (which for many translates to the color of a person).
However, over the years after all the teasing and asking why I was named an old white lady's name or a boy's name. (The old white lady's name always threw me for a loop though and kinda hurt because I wasn't old nor white, but it was asked in a half joking half serious way, which translated negatively to me.) Adults would actually ask me that (not white of course) As if I came out the womb and told the Dr./my mother, Hey guys I got a good one, Meredith, it's money in the bank go ahead and put it on the Birth Certificate.
I'm like noooo… Gladys named me that why you not asking her? It was crazy but on the other side of the coin many white people react as if that is the most shocking thing they've heard. I had a Triage nurse (she was white) call my name at a drs. appointment and when I stood I swear the lady staggered back a little with her mouth agape. I was like damn, is it that serious?! It's my name- I love it but at the end of the day it is just a name, I mean really... She pissed me off that day I felt it was very rude, but it was what it was.
Anyways, I've never thought Meredith equated to old & white, but I kinda didn't equate it to anyone that looked like me (outside opinions helped that)? Just pretty much thought my mom was sipping a bit or smoking a bunch, it waaaasss the 70's? As I got older I wondered why she did name me Meredith and where she got it? Because I started to get to the point that I felt it wasn't fair, with teasing and many times mispronouncing or correcting the spelling made that feeling worse.
So I asked her at a really young age and I thought she said at the time, it had something to do with water but when I asked again many years later she told me NO, she said she named me after a Black Panther named Charles Meredith (My father's name was Charles too). He was one of her favorite members and she thought the name Meredith was pretty.
When I heard that (and this may offend people) I was proud because though it was a man's last name, it was attached to a person who was tied to me culturally, which made me more confident (not that I hated my name, but it caused some issues) with being A-American and named Meredith. I also like that my name means Great Lord or Lord because so many people made me feel that Meredith was a weak name, yet I've found over the years that Meredith has been given to many people that have done great things.
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Meredith is my name and I've loved it always. It's strong, gentle, sweet - and uncommon. I get compliments for it all over. A great name!
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There's a town in my state called Meredith.
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I am a lucky recipient of the name Meredith (another Meredith Kay, I was first though as I’m 46, haha). I love my name. I wouldn’t like to be called Mary though... mine is shortened to Mere a lot, but I was Sissy when I was little. I had a college classmate from Europe who called me M’-red-ith. It was unusual to hear it that way, but she assured me it was the correct pronunciation. I always thought, oh well, I’m from the south, we say everything incorrectly... haha
One curious observation over the years though... Meredith is always the bad guy in Disney type movies. Lol.
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One curious observation over the years though... Meredith is always the bad guy in Disney type movies. Lol.
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My name is Merredith and my mother named me after a pro football player named Don Meredith from back in the day. I love my name, even though people misspell it ALL the time. I find the older I'm getting, the more I appreciate it. My former coworkers used to call me Merr. :)
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My name is Meredith. I grew up in a small southern Virginia town. There were 5 of us within 3 years of each other. 3 were boys and 2 of us girls. I couldn't stand my name growing up and refused to go by it. My grandfather refused to call me Meredith because his male friend and I shared it. I turned 18 and suddenly fell in love with it. I refuse Mary or anything the like. If you are close to me you know my nick name. I have found that when two Merediths meet it's big. I appreciate sharing this fantastic name.
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Meredith Louise Vieira is an American journalist, talk show and game show host. She is known for serving as the original moderator of the ABC talk show, The View, and for co-hosting the long-running NBC News morning news program, Today.
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Meredith Willson (1902–1984), an American composer and bandleader, best known for his stage muscial, _The Music Man_.
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I'm a Meredith, shortened to Meri by my parents. I like the full version and it's stood me in good stead in professional environments as it feels like a strong name that's not overtly girly (suits me there), but the shorter version gets difficult, due to spelling and pronunciation, I'm always called Mary after I've introduced myself as Meri, so I always have an awkward moment and I feel rude correcting people. I'd actually prefer to go by Edi instead now I'm older (28).
The Welsh origin Meredith was more commonly a male first name but in modern days it's more common in women, it's certainly not inappropriate or weird though for a man to be called Meredith.
0
The Welsh origin Meredith was more commonly a male first name but in modern days it's more common in women, it's certainly not inappropriate or weird though for a man to be called Meredith.
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I think Meredith goes well for either gender, really.
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That is my name and I think it is quite elegant.
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Hate it. Sounds rough. I think of an old grumpy chain smoking lady.
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I am actually a Meredith (Meredith Kay) and I LOVE my name. I'm 16, so I'm young, but it's probably my favorite thing about myself. I used to think my name was weird but now it is a perfect way to express myself. I once actually met a boy named Meredith, which was a little strange for me, but it was also pretty cool. I also met someone who told me that all the other Merediths that they know are old ladies, which was actually very funny. I love my "old" name, even if others find it odd or difficult to pronounce.
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Hello, my name is Meredith and with my middle name it's Meredith Leigh. To be honest I was reading some of the comments and was surprised by what some people had to say. I'm 24 years old and I have never thought of my name sounding old. It's an old name, yes, but one you don't hear very often and when people find out it's my name I usually get a compliment on it. I don't put genders to names so I think any name could work for both but I definitely have met more female Meredith's, though have met some males that totally rock it.
I feel like my name absolutely fits me. Its fun and slightly unique yet beautiful and elegant. As a small child I wanted to be a mermaid and loved everything about the ocean, swam competitively for 13 years and I feel most at home in the water. I grew up around a lot of Scots, Celtic everything was around me all the time. I remember when I was around 8 my friends great grandmother met me for the first time and the first thing she said to me was "Meredith, ah protector of the sea." It just solidified for me that this was indeed my name and I was meant to have this name.
I know this all sounds a bit odd or obnoxious but I take a lot of pride in my name. A persons name is so important. Its who they are and I am fortunate that Meredith happens to be mine and that it fits me so well.
3
I feel like my name absolutely fits me. Its fun and slightly unique yet beautiful and elegant. As a small child I wanted to be a mermaid and loved everything about the ocean, swam competitively for 13 years and I feel most at home in the water. I grew up around a lot of Scots, Celtic everything was around me all the time. I remember when I was around 8 my friends great grandmother met me for the first time and the first thing she said to me was "Meredith, ah protector of the sea." It just solidified for me that this was indeed my name and I was meant to have this name.
I know this all sounds a bit odd or obnoxious but I take a lot of pride in my name. A persons name is so important. Its who they are and I am fortunate that Meredith happens to be mine and that it fits me so well.
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Hi, my name is Meredith. I was born in 1982. I'm 34. I love my name. I think it is different but not different in a weird way. Nobody has ever made fun of my name or anything like that and people have commented by saying "Meredith, what a pretty name". My parents named me Meredith Lynn (my middle name) and even 34 years later my Dad says that he still loves my name to this day. I have been nicknamed Mer, MerMer, and Murf or Murf the Smurf (my Dad's pet name for me ever since I was really little.
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I generally picture a woman when I hear this name, but I see no problem with using it as a masculine name, either. On either sex, however, I find that it sounds somewhat snooty and pretentious, like the name of someone who's always looking down their nose at people less fortunate than they are in terms of wealth. I know not all Merediths are like that, but it's what comes to mind, and what keeps me from liking the name.
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It's so interesting to see what others have to say about my name. For whatever reason, my parents got playful with my spelling, so I'm stuck with Merideth. Not only do people literally pronounce it Merry-Death, but also the few and far between name memorabilia found at airports and Disney are all spelled Meredith. It's always been a touchy subject for me ;) I did not love my name as a child. New friends found it hard to pronounce, teachers found it impossible to spell, and it just sounded harsh coming out of my mouth when trying to introduce myself to new people. I longed to be named Jessica, Brittany, Sarah... anything common and hip for the time would have been just fine with me. However, now as an adult professional, I love my name. It's unique, powerful, and when pronounced correctly (Mare-ah-deth), actually quite beautiful. It's definitely not for everyone, sort of like naming a tiny baby girl Martha. But I like it. I HATE when people call me Mary/Merry. Kind of makes me cringe, as if they have just given up and settled for a name easier to say or pronounce. My family and friends call me Mer, and I'm okay with that. It was a joke in my house growing up for my mom and dad to say "NightMer" as I was heading off to bed. Lol, good times. Of course I'll never be able to escape the infamous Merbear nickname, all of our friends' children (and even some really close adult friends) refer to me as that. I've even become used to introducing myself as Merbear to small children. Over all, I am proud to be a Merideth (Meredith)!
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I called my only child, a daughter, Meredith. As a former high school teacher, I wanted a name I had no student association with.. I also wanted a name that couldn't be shortened or have a "y" added. I wanted a long first name to go with her short surname. Her husband and all of his world call her "Mer", which I don't like.
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A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell Hamilton.
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The name of one of the granddaughters of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar from 19 Kids and Counting.
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My last name is Wiebe-Meredith (parents couldn't decide what to go with apparently), but comically enough Wiebe is of Germanic descent and means "war", which always made me laugh because of Meredith meaning "great lord". I'd like to think of myself as bring a great war lord lol.
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This reminds me of the main character in Disney's "BRAVE"
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My husband and I are giving this name to our daughter but we are spelling it Marideth and we plan on calling her Mari for short after my Mimi (: I love this name.
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My female name at birth was spelled Merideth.
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Meredith is such an ethereal and classy name on a girl. It sounds regal without beign posh and isn't too common, either. I really, really like it! On a boy it would be a too feminine and delicate name.
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This is my name and I've always loved it. I think it suits a young girl and an adult woman. I grew up in a time with six friends named Ashley, four named Jennifer, and three named Jessica. I'm glad I was the only Meredith. I think it sounds smart and classy.
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I really like it and think it's underused. I am considering it for another girl.
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Interesting to read what other people think of my name. I've had it for almost 35 years now, and have always felt neutral about it. I'm glad that it's uncommon but common enough- though sometimes I wish it were more clearly defined (if it really does mean 'lord'; I totally don't identify with that)... I suppose I like that it's mysterious!
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Really lame name for a really lame person.
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Gordon Meredith Lightfoot jr., born November 17, 1938, is a Canadian folk singer.
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The 20th century composer Meredith Wilson was a man whose name was Meredith. He composed "The Music Man" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."
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As a feminine name, I really like it. I must've first heard it as a girl's name to feel strongly that it does not suit a man - like boys called Dana or Gail, sits strangely, like a girl being called Thomas or Gerald.
Anyway, I think it sounds... considered, calm, somehow.
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Anyway, I think it sounds... considered, calm, somehow.
2
My Name is Meredith. Meredith Skyy. :3 My father named me after an actress, (and vodka, henceSkyy.. my middle name xDD) but I seem to like my name more because of all the history behind it, and the fact that it's an older name with meaning instead of the kreatyve, made up names now days. I used to not like it much when I was younger. I was called stuff like Murrdiff, Mary Death, even Meredick. XD I don't like being called Mere or Merry. I just like Meredith or Mara. (Mere-ah)I'm starting to like my name more as I get older. I still wish people would pronounce it right. :\ It's Ma-rare-dith. NOT MAIR-DITH. The correct way to say it is way better then the way people think it's said, but whenever I try to correct someone they just give me weird looks. So, I'm stuck with a mispronounced name for the rest of my life. I should move to Whales. At least they'll say it right there. It's like calling someone named Courtney, Coo-ort-nee. :\
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Even though this was originally a boy name, I love it for a girl. It's on my shortlist for names to change to, because my father liked it when my parents were discussing names before I was born. I can easily see myself as a Meredith, and "Merry" is an adorable nickname.
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I'm sorry but this is a really weird name and I definitely can't imagine this name on a boy?! :/
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This does not seem like a masculine name to me at ALL.
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There is nothing overtly repulsive about this name. It is hands down head and shoulders above the abominable "kre8tiv" titles nowadays. Regardless, it is no secret that "Meredith" is an aged, almost geriatric name. My fear is that it would number the bearer, as well.
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This is a beautiful name. It's my middle name, and I always regretted it wasn't my first, but my father objected to its being a boy's name. (This is long before that became trendy.) Now, of course, it's much more common for girls. I like Merry or Merrie as nicknames, too.
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Don't forget Meredith Willson, author of THE MUSIC MAN!
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I think it's a very lovely name. My only issue with it is that I can't really picture a young girl with this name. The name to me sounds very mature and womanly.
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Good sense, but it sounds like yuk yuk yuk.
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The singer Meredith Godreau, better known as Gregory and the Hawk, is a semi-famous bearer of the name. She's got the most adorable voice.
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While it has been heavily used on girls here I still get an internal giggle given it's meaning just like I do Dylan (Welsh sea god). It's just bizarre what names "turn".
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My daughter is Meredith Constance. She occasionally goes by Meri for short. While I understand the name is historically used on boys, (and I actually am a HUGE "boy name on girl" hater) this one is different to me because the roots/meaning of the name do not preclude use on girls, and the origin of the name is as a surname which was later adopted as a Christian name. The fact that has been used in the States almost exclusively on girls for several generations, and the feminine sound, are further supporting factors. Plus, it's just such a pretty name. :)
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So cute! Possibly a middle name. I think a cute nickname would be Merrie if they were a baby, Mer if a teen, and just plain Meredith if they're older.
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I'm really starting to like this name (on a girl). I'm usually not a fan of unisex names, but this one I actually like. It doesn't have that trendiness that Taylor, Hayden, and Riley seem to have. I would totally consider using this name as a middle name for a future daughter.
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I honestly cannot find this one appealing on girls. Another stolen name.
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I like this name. I hate girly names but Meredith is strong and feminine so I like it. I'm also a big Grey's Anatomy fan so that's a great association as well.
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No offense, but it sounds quite dated, and I find it difficult to imagine someone named Meredith under the age of 35. I don't like the 'th' ending either.
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"Meredith Rodney McKay" is the first name of the TV show "Stargate: Atlantis" character known as "Rodney McKay", the Canadian Chief Scientific Advisor of the Atlantis Expedition. But he goes as "Rodney" and no one knew about the "Meredith" part, until his equally genius sister "Jeannie" needed to come and help out and let that secret slip. I suppose that he was teased about it as a kid in school.
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This is one of the few unisex names I can tolerate. It doesn't have a cult following like Madison or Avery nor does it scream masculine on a girl. It's just simply a feminine, gorgeous, and soft name. It's not to bad on a boy, but I actually prefer it on a girl.
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I think Meredith sounds better on a girl than a boy. It's ok on a boy, but WAY better on a girl.
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My name is Meredith and I have always loved my name. My mom calls me Mere (which I think is really cute) and some friends call me Mers for short.
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I love it. It's flowy and funky, to me. I was primarily drawn to it because it just so happens to be a neat combo of both my grandmothers' first names - Mary and Edith.
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My name is Meredith, so understandably I really like the name. And personally, I would hate it if anyone called me Merrie or Mary or whatnot.
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I think this name would ago pretty well on a person. As a child, they could have the nickname Merrie, and then just be called Meredith as an adult. I think it suits a girl more than a boy. =)
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My sister's name is Meredith Georgia. I like her name fine, but I think of it more as a middle name. (Lily Meredith, Holly Meredith) I think it's feminine and strong, and I do really like it, but it's not my most favorite. My mom and dad call her "Mary" for a nickname, and I just call her "Mere" and sometimes "Murdeeth" just for fun!
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My name is Meredith, and I would never think of a boy named such. Most people call me Merrie as a nickname, or Merrie D. as a combination of Merrie and the D in Meredith.
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I named my daughter Meredith because it seemed more unusual than Melanie or Melissa, and less sweet and gentle. She's 7 and seems to like it pretty much, except a lot of people can't spell or pronounce it!
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An alternate spelling to Meredith is Merridy, which is my mother's name.
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Well I'd hate to keep contradicting Sophie here but um, I fail to see how Merridy constitutes as "alternate spelling". It is a completely different (made up) name. It isn't pronounced the same, it isn't spelled anywhere close to the same and I'm sure it has absolutely no meaning at all. Sorry but it's the truth.
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The name Merridy is from a surname. There are many spellings of surnames that are similar to Meredith and may be related (Merriday, Meredy etc).
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Singer/songwriter Meredith Brooks is a famous bearer.
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It's beautiful as a feminine name, and all the Meredith's I've met have had a combination of beauty and brilliance.
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Lovely on a girl. It's so classy and has some nice nickname possibilities.
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I love Meredith on a girl. It's so classy and feminine, I really can't picture a boy named this, it just seems weird to me.
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I think Meredith is an elegant name.
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Meredith has been on the top 1000 list since 1910. Its most popular year was the 1980's.
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Always reminds me of an old lady.
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In the show Stargate Atlantis Rodney's full name is actually Meredith Rodney Mckay. :p
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I absolutely love this name (on a girl only).
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I love the name Meredith! One of my best friends has this name and it fits her personality perfectly! Funny, smart, and awesome!
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I prefer Meredith for a boy.
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Meredith is a beautiful name. It sounds feminine and strong.
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The lead character on the TV show "Grey's Anatomy" is named Meredith. I think it's a very classic, nice name for any age.
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"Meredith Grey is a fictional surgeon and the series protagonist on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy" - Wikipedia.com
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Meredith Baxter played the mom on the sitcom "Family Ties."
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Character named Meredith Gentry in Laurell K. Hamilton's "Meredith Gentry" series.
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Firstly, contrary to a lot of information I've seen (including the American Webster’s dictionary), the name has nothing to do with the sea or water whatsoever. It does not mean "Guardian of the Sea", "Protector of the Sea" or any other such combination.
The original spelling was Maredudd - pronounced "Mredeeth". Often the "E" following the "M" is not pronounced. In the Welsh language and in English speaking Wales, the accent and stress is always on the Penultimate syllable, the modern pronunciation is therefore - Mer-(as in “Myrrh”) Rheh d'ith. Said quickly it almost becomes M’redith! The incorrect pronunciation that strikes the name outside of the Welsh borders is the one widely accepted in the U.S. and the rest of Britain, which curiously causes "Merry" to be a suitable shortening! To those of us who are Welsh it is grating to the ears to say the least to hear our name so mutilated! As a resident of the US I spend a lot of time correcting people in the pronunciation of the name.
Other seemingly unrelated but correct pet or short forms of the name are PRIDDY, PREEDY, PREDDY, BEDO, BEDDOES etc. Meredith is an Anglicized form of Welsh Meredudd, earlier (Middle Welsh) Maredud(d). The word is transparently a two-member compound, the second component of which goes back to Old Welsh iud(d) ‘lord’ (Indo-European *youdhyos). Cf. the -ith in Meredith and Griffith and note OW Moriud ‘sea warrior, sea lord’. In his Language and History in Early Britain (1953:346), Kenneth Jackson has marshaled a history of the name’s transformations from the Annales Cambriae forward: Morgetiud > Margetiud > Margetud > Maredud(d) > Meredith. Clearly, Old Welsh Morgetiud is not equivalent to Moriud, and a ‘sea lord’ etymology for Meredith must be rejected. In fact, no amount of licit phonological or morphological tinkering permits an equation Morgetiud = Moriud. In Morgetiud, necessarily our point of departure, -et- seemingly points to an underlying plural -etes, such as we find in early tribal names, e.g. Gaulish Namnetes. If so, then a tribal name reconstructed as *Morgetes or the like may be a preform. A Celtic *Morgetes would companionze semantically (see below) with Germanic Marcomanni ‘the men of the march or frontier men’. Initial morg- points to Common Celtic morg- / mrog- as alternative o-grade syllabifications of an Indo-European *mereg- ‘boundary land, border area’ (Pokorny’s notation: IEW 738). Such alternative Vr ~ rV syllabifications are well attested in Celtic, e.g. Latin porrum ‘leek, plant grown in a recessed bed’ from *pr-so- vs. prâtum ‘meadow’ from *prH-to- : Middle Irish ra(i)th ‘earthen rampart, garden bed’. For *morg-, cf. Gothic (etc.) marka < Indo-European morgâ feminine. For *mrog-, recall Cymmry ‘Welsh’ < *Com-mroges and compare Old Irish mruig- < *mrogi- ‘country, area’, Breton bro ‘country, district’, and so forth.
The name is of course a male Christian name with some of the earliest examples dating from the 6th century onwards. It was a name popular with some members of the ancient Welsh Royal families. Exactly how or why it should become common as a female name in the U.S is curious indeed! A girl or woman named Meredith to us, is as strange to us as a woman called Peter, Jack or David! The name's most common point of origin is in the rural border counties of Mid Wales - Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire and also over the border in Herefordshire and its neighbours. Even today, this is where the greatest concentration of the name exists.
There are several ancient families of the name - that is to say families who adopted the name as a "fixed" surname prior to the mid 1600's. The Meredith families of Llanbister/Llangunllo/ St Harmon and Nantmel being some of the most ancient. There is also a very ancient line that came from the Wrexham/Denbigh area in North Wales. This Denbighshire family are often linked with the Tudor family in a lot of genealogies, however research conducted so far has proved no link. As with most of the surviving ancient Welsh names, Meredith and its variants are PATRONYMIC, the ancient naming system of most of Wales until the last 300 years or so. Quite simply this means that all Merediths are not related to each other.
In modern Britain, the greatest concentration of the name is to be found in the Midlands of England and in the border counties close to Wales such as Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire etc. Across the border, in Wales, the name is most common in modern Glamorganshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire. A distribution pattern not that different to 200 years ago.
1
The original spelling was Maredudd - pronounced "Mredeeth". Often the "E" following the "M" is not pronounced. In the Welsh language and in English speaking Wales, the accent and stress is always on the Penultimate syllable, the modern pronunciation is therefore - Mer-(as in “Myrrh”) Rheh d'ith. Said quickly it almost becomes M’redith! The incorrect pronunciation that strikes the name outside of the Welsh borders is the one widely accepted in the U.S. and the rest of Britain, which curiously causes "Merry" to be a suitable shortening! To those of us who are Welsh it is grating to the ears to say the least to hear our name so mutilated! As a resident of the US I spend a lot of time correcting people in the pronunciation of the name.
Other seemingly unrelated but correct pet or short forms of the name are PRIDDY, PREEDY, PREDDY, BEDO, BEDDOES etc. Meredith is an Anglicized form of Welsh Meredudd, earlier (Middle Welsh) Maredud(d). The word is transparently a two-member compound, the second component of which goes back to Old Welsh iud(d) ‘lord’ (Indo-European *youdhyos). Cf. the -ith in Meredith and Griffith and note OW Moriud ‘sea warrior, sea lord’. In his Language and History in Early Britain (1953:346), Kenneth Jackson has marshaled a history of the name’s transformations from the Annales Cambriae forward: Morgetiud > Margetiud > Margetud > Maredud(d) > Meredith. Clearly, Old Welsh Morgetiud is not equivalent to Moriud, and a ‘sea lord’ etymology for Meredith must be rejected. In fact, no amount of licit phonological or morphological tinkering permits an equation Morgetiud = Moriud. In Morgetiud, necessarily our point of departure, -et- seemingly points to an underlying plural -etes, such as we find in early tribal names, e.g. Gaulish Namnetes. If so, then a tribal name reconstructed as *Morgetes or the like may be a preform. A Celtic *Morgetes would companionze semantically (see below) with Germanic Marcomanni ‘the men of the march or frontier men’. Initial morg- points to Common Celtic morg- / mrog- as alternative o-grade syllabifications of an Indo-European *mereg- ‘boundary land, border area’ (Pokorny’s notation: IEW 738). Such alternative Vr ~ rV syllabifications are well attested in Celtic, e.g. Latin porrum ‘leek, plant grown in a recessed bed’ from *pr-so- vs. prâtum ‘meadow’ from *prH-to- : Middle Irish ra(i)th ‘earthen rampart, garden bed’. For *morg-, cf. Gothic (etc.) marka < Indo-European morgâ feminine. For *mrog-, recall Cymmry ‘Welsh’ < *Com-mroges and compare Old Irish mruig- < *mrogi- ‘country, area’, Breton bro ‘country, district’, and so forth.
The name is of course a male Christian name with some of the earliest examples dating from the 6th century onwards. It was a name popular with some members of the ancient Welsh Royal families. Exactly how or why it should become common as a female name in the U.S is curious indeed! A girl or woman named Meredith to us, is as strange to us as a woman called Peter, Jack or David! The name's most common point of origin is in the rural border counties of Mid Wales - Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire and also over the border in Herefordshire and its neighbours. Even today, this is where the greatest concentration of the name exists.
There are several ancient families of the name - that is to say families who adopted the name as a "fixed" surname prior to the mid 1600's. The Meredith families of Llanbister/Llangunllo/ St Harmon and Nantmel being some of the most ancient. There is also a very ancient line that came from the Wrexham/Denbigh area in North Wales. This Denbighshire family are often linked with the Tudor family in a lot of genealogies, however research conducted so far has proved no link. As with most of the surviving ancient Welsh names, Meredith and its variants are PATRONYMIC, the ancient naming system of most of Wales until the last 300 years or so. Quite simply this means that all Merediths are not related to each other.
In modern Britain, the greatest concentration of the name is to be found in the Midlands of England and in the border counties close to Wales such as Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire etc. Across the border, in Wales, the name is most common in modern Glamorganshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire. A distribution pattern not that different to 200 years ago.
1
Actually, according to UK birth records (checkable via Ancestry), the majority of Merediths in Wales have been female for at least the last 30-odd years, and the earliest I could find was a Meredith Hannah Lastname born in Cardiff in 1870, so the practice has been going on for some time. It's certainly not "as strange as a woman called Peter, Jack or David".
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The Welsh pronunciation of Meredith stresses the second syllable instead of the first.
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Spelling variations: Meradith (that's me!), Meridith, Meredyth, Meredeth, Merydith
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