Mercy
Meaning of Mercy
Mercy is a vintage virtue name that floats off the tongue—MUR-see—like a white dove winging through a sun-dappled courtyard. Its roots reach back to the Latin misericordia, “tender-hearted compassion,” a quality the ancient Romans prized and the Spanish-speaking world still sings about every 24 de septiembre on the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Merced. Puritan settlers later tucked Mercy into their Bibles and baby cradles alike, hoping the word would bloom into a lifelong habit. Today the name sits comfortably around the mid-600s on U.S. charts, never a chart-topper but a faithful companion—think of her as the steady heartbeat rather than the flashy drum solo. Literary fans may picture Mercy Woodhouse in Jane Austen’s circle or Mercy Thompson revving a supernatural motorcycle; music lovers might recall Duffy’s soulful “Mercy” begging for reprieve on the dance floor. Warm, whisper-soft, yet anchored in centuries of culture, Mercy offers parents a small word with a mighty embrace—and, as abuelita might tease, who couldn’t use a little más misericordia in the family?
Pronunciation
British English
- Pronunced as MUR-see (/ˈmɜː.si/)
American English
- Pronunced as MUR-see (/ˈmɜr.si/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Mercy
| Mercy Otis Warren was a Revolutionary War-era writer and activist who used her poetry and plays to inspire American colonists in their fight for independence. |
| Mercy Hunter was a Northern Irish artist, calligrapher, and teacher who co-founded the Ulster Society of Women Artists, served as its president, and was a past president of the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts. |
| Mercy Johnson-Okojie is a Nigerian actress, director, and producer. |
| Mercy Chinwo is a Nigerian gospel singer who rose to fame after winning Nigerian Idol and has released several acclaimed albums. |
| Mercy Eke is a Nigerian reality TV star and entrepreneur who made history as the first woman to win Big Brother Naija in 2019. |
| Mercy Margaret, a poet from Hyderabad, India, gained fame after winning the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar Award for her book "Matala Madugu" in 2017. |
| Mercy Dee Walton was an American jump blues musician whose songs sardonically critiqued rural life for black migrant workers in California. |
| Mercy Williams, a teacher turned politician, made history as the first woman mayor of Kochi, Kerala. |
| Mercy Muroki is a Kenyan-British journalist and presenter who served on the UK government's 2021 race commission and contributes to GB News and The Sun. |
| Mercy Apondi Obiero is a Kenyan weightlifter born on August 27, 1978, in Nairobi. |
| Mercy Baby was an American blues and R&B musician who recorded as a drummer, singer, and songwriter in the late 1950s. |
| Miesinnei Mercy Genesis is a Nigerian freestyle wrestler who won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and competed in the 2016 Olympics. |
| Mercy Ravi was a Kerala Legislative Assembly member, wife of politician Vayalar Ravi, and a renowned social worker and author. |
| Mercy Brown is an English weightlifter who holds three British records. |
| Mercy Akpanchang Nku Esimoneze is a retired Nigerian sprinter who competed in the 100 metres. |
