Meredith

Meredith is a Welsh given name and surname of ancient origin. As a personal name, it derives from the Old Welsh forms Margetud or Morgetuid, evolving through Medieval Welsh Maredudd and Modern Welsh Meredydd. The etymology is debated: the first element may stem from mawredd 'greatness, magnificence', while the second element iudd means 'lord', a component also found in names like Gruffydd and Bleidd[y]udd.

History and Usage

In medieval times, Meredith was almost exclusively given to boys, particularly in Wales, where it enjoyed consistent popularity throughout the Middle Ages. In Welsh, the stress falls on the penultimate syllable, which sometimes caused elision of the first vowel, producing forms like Mred. Outside Wales, the name's usage gradually shifted. Since around the 1920s, English-speaking countries have more often bestowed Meredith on girls, a trend that has continued into the 21st century, though in Wales it remains common for boys. Common English variants include Merideth and Meridith.

Notable Bearers

As a surname, Meredith is carried by George Meredith (1828–1909), a major English novelist and poet of the Victorian era, known for works such as The Egoist. Other bearers include American journalist James Meredith, who became the first African American student at the University of Mississippi; Don Meredith, a noted American football player and broadcaster; and Burgess Meredith, the acclaimed Hollywood actor. The actor Hattie McDaniel's character in Gone with the Wind was named Mammy, but a prominent fictional Meredith is Anne's no-nonsense cousin in the Green Gables series.

Related Names

Beyond the Welsh and Anglicized forms, Meredith also functions as a given name for women in popular culture (e.g., Meredith Grey's surname, used as a character's middle name via Ellen Pompeo’s announcement that she knew someone named Meredith). The related Welsh patronym surname ApMeredith means 'son of Meredudd'.

• Meaning: possibly 'great lord' from Welsh mawredd 'greatness' + iudd 'lord'
• Origin: Welsh (Old Welsh Margetud, Modern Welsh Meredydd)
• Type: Unisex given name (historically masculine, now predominantly feminine in English-speaking countries)
• Usage Regions: Wales, English-speaking world