[name]Just[/name] wanted to get some feedback on this name before it officially goes on my list. What are your thoughts/opinions/feelings towards Merit? And should I spell it Merit or [name]Merritt[/name]? I know they are technically 2 different names, which one is more appealing?
My “list,” puny I know…
[name]Sawyer[/name]
Merit/[name]Merritt[/name]
[name]Asher[/name] (yes, for a girl.)
I adore [name]Merritt[/name]. Very handsome, very masculine, and something substantial for a young man to aspire to. I’ve known exactly one [name]IRL[/name], and he was just an all-around good guy.
I know a little girl named Merit, and it’s very precious on her. She’s a sweet, round-faced, blond two year old. I personally prefer it by leaps and bound above [name]Sawyer[/name] and [name]Asher[/name] for a girl and think it goes the best as a sister for [name]Rowan[/name].
As for the spelling, I think I prefer Merit to [name]Merritt[/name]. However, I think this is mostly because of my personal associations (Merit = coworker’s daughter; [name]Merritt[/name] = annoying boy who I went to high school with). If you’re up in the air about it, I’d go with the meaning you like the best.
I love Merit 
Mostly for the aforementioned ancient Egyptian connection. In the second part of that programme I finally saw it written down. It seems the direct hieroglyphics to English is ‘Meryt’ but I think Merit is probably better. A basic Google says it means ‘beloved’. Adorable all round!
I went to school with a young woman named [name]Maret[/name], which I suspect was a family name. I personally prefer [name]Maret[/name] or [name]Merritt[/name] because Merit as a word name seems a bit self-indulgent or self-congratulatory to me.
Merit over [name]Merritt[/name]. 100%
I like it.
[name]Merritt[/name] feels more name-like, but Merit is also very pretty.
I also like the mentioned [name]Maret[/name]–and it feels much more feminine.
I definitely prefer any of the spelling options to both [name]Sawyer[/name] or [name]Asher[/name] on a girl.
Wouldn’t [name]Maret[/name] be pronounced differently? Like [name]MAR[/name]-et? Pretty though.
Oh, I’m definitely going to mention the Egyptian connection to my husband, he loves anything about Ancient civilizations. Does it mean “beloved” in Egyptian? I thought it could have something to do with ocean or sea with the Mer- beginning but I’m probably wrong.
Behindthename.com says [name]Merritt[/name] is an Old English surname that means “boundary gate.” Hmm.
I like the idea of the ancient Egyptian connection, but the name feels so boxy to me. My first association is “demerit.” Damn Catholic school.
Any interest in Asherah? I think it’s so breathy and lovely. “She who walks in the sea.”
I don’t know. I’ve never heard of it before. My first instinct would be to pronounce it mare-it, the same as Merit, because of “mare” the female horse being pronounced that way.
But Merit definitely has the upper hand in always being pronounced correctly. I can’t imagine another way to say it.
I believe it’s also considered a virtue name. I’m not religious in the least but I suppose “deserving” isn’t the worst of the virtues to have a name associated with.
Oh, we’re not religious either. Atheists actually. Does it come off as religious or Puritanical? 
I have considered Asherah, it’s beautiful in theory but I knew a girl in high school named Sherah and she was a horrible, gross person so I can’t get that image out of my head. I love the meaning.
There seems to be varying origins for Merit.
Also an atheist, and it plays a huge role in naming for me so I understand your hesitation.
It is related to Meritus, which is the latin virtue word meaning “deserving”.
But I’ve also seen the English and Egyptian connections online. Which make it much more appealing for me.
I grew up going to catholic school so that’s where I got the reference for it, but I doubt many other people would make that connection.
I like Merit and prefer Merit.
[name]Love[/name] Merit!
I really like [name]Sawyer[/name] for a girl,and I think that using [name]Asher[/name] for a girl is fine.
Those are all boys’ names. Therefore, I like them on a boy.
I know this is Wiki, but Merit-Ptah - Wikipedia. 
I went to Catholic school too The only merit I can think of was to do with out merit system where we got ‘points’ for being good and then certificates and prizes at the end of the year. Is that the reference?