Althea vs Merritt

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Althea

Girl #1,397 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"healer, one who makes whole"

Origin: Greek (althainein — to heal)

Cultural Roots

Greek English African-American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,397
Total SSA Count
160
Syllables
3
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Thea, Al, Allie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Althea →

Popularity Comparison

Althea Rank #1,397
Merritt Rank #1,411

Althea is more popular, ranked #1397 vs #1411 for Merritt.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Althea ___

  • Althea Rose
  • Althea Jane
  • Althea Grace
  • Althea Fern
  • Althea Violet
  • Althea Pearl

Merritt ___

  • Merritt Lane
  • Merritt James
  • Merritt Grace
  • Merritt Claire
  • Merritt Elise
  • Merritt Lee

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Althea

Thea Cordelia Lavinia Cassius Lysander

If you choose Merritt

Quinn Sloane Blake Finley Scout

Which Name Fits Your Family?

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1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Althea or Merritt more popular?

Althea is more popular, ranked #1397 compared to Merritt at #1411 in the United States.

What do Althea and Merritt mean?

Althea means "healer, one who makes whole" (Greek (althainein — to heal) origin). Merritt means "boundary gate" (Old English origin).

Are Althea and Merritt boy or girl names?

Althea is primarily a girl name. Merritt is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Althea ← Full profile: Merritt Browse all baby names