Merideth

Merideth is a feminine variant of Meredith, and thus ultimately derives from the Welsh name Maredudd or Meredydd. These Old Welsh forms likely evolved from Margetud and may combine mawredd ("greatness, magnificence") with iudd ("lord"), giving a meaning of "great lord" or "magnificent lord." Historically a masculine name in Wales, over time usage shifted in English-speaking countries, and since the mid-1920s, forms like Merideth have been used more frequently for girls.

Etymology and History

The name traces back to medieval Wales, where forms such as Maredudd were common among Welsh royalty and nobility. The name appears in the Mabinogion and other medieval Welsh literature. With the anglicization of Welsh names, variations like Meledith and, ultimately, Merideth emerged. The spelling Merideth is an uncommon but occasionally used alternative to the more standard Meredith.

Notable Bearers

Merideth is primarily used as a given name today, but there are notable bearers of the surname. In politics, Peter Merideth serves as a Missouri state representative, and Sonny Merideth (1930–2017) was a Mississippi lawyer and politician. In the arts, Merideth Boswell is a distinguished set decorator who won an Emmy for Project Runway.

Distribution and Variants

Merideth is related to Meridith, a parallel variant. While less common than Meredith, all forms share a Welsh origin and are used in English-speaking countries. The name peaked in popularity for girls in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s.

• Meaning: From Welsh elements meaning "greatness" + "lord"
• Origin: Welsh
• Type: Feminine variant of Meredith
• Usage: English-speaking countries (especially U.S.)