Bright sea or blackbird
Merly is a rare diminutive or variant likely derived from the Welsh name Merle or the English name Marilyn. It is often associated with the French word 'merle' meaning blackbird or the Celtic elements for 'bright sea'.
Less common today
Merly isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #8,383 in 2012.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
