Mercy is an English virtue name, from the Latin merces, "reward", that came to mean "compassion" and "forgiveness"; the Puritans of New England gave it to their daughters alongside Patience and Charity in the 17th century. It has returned as a quieter alternative to Grace, Hope and Faith. Mercy entered the US top 1000 in 2016, peaked at number 661 in 2019 and ranks number 867 among girls in 2025.