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The short answer
Mercy is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From the English word mercy, ultimately from Latin merces ‘wages, reward’, a derivative of merx ‘goods, wares’. This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century." It ranked #867 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from the English word mercy, ultimately from Latin merces ‘wages, reward’, a derivative of merx ‘goods, wares’. This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Mercy ranked #867 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #867 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Mercy in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mercy mean?
Behind the Name does not give Mercy a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from the English word mercy, ultimately from Latin merces wages, reward, a derivative of merx goods, wares.
Is Mercy a popular name?
Mercy ranked #867 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Mercy a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Mercy appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Mercy — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
