Muriel

Muriel - A very unique female name

Muriel appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #191. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Muriel and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Muriel? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Muriel. The baby girl name Muriel was given to 6 baby girls in 2025, ranking #4550 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 217,245 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Muriel peaked in popularity 104 years ago in 1922 on position 112.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Muriel, 1-5?

Muriel is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Muriel is currently topping the baby name charts in Texas at position #3,191 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #3,191.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Muriel is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Muriel origin and meaning

Celtic (Irish)

From Irish Muirgel: muir, 'sea,' plus gel, 'bright' — 'bright sea'

Muriel descends from the medieval Irish name Muirgel, 'bright sea,' carried into wider use through Brittany and Norman France. It peaked in America in 1922 and has been rare for decades, with 6 births in 2025. The novelist Muriel Spark, who died in 2006, is a contemporary bearer under the post-2000 rule.

Attested etymology

Muriel is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Muriel, pop culture references for the name Muriel and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Muriel

We've found the following names that sound similar to Muriel, sorted by popularity.

Marla / Marley / Marlee / Merle / Marylou / Mariela / Mariel / Marlo / Marilee / Marlowe /

---

Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Muriel

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Muriel a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Muriel?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

---

Pronunciation

MYOOR-ee-el · /ˈmjʊəriəl/
MYOOR-ee-el and MUR-ee-el pronunciations both occur.

Around the world

• Muirgel (Irish) — The original Irish form
• Murielle (French) — French elaborated form

Spellings and nicknames

• Murielle — French-style elaboration occasionally seen

Famous bearers

• Muriel Spark — Scottish novelist, author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1918–2006) Contemporary

Style

ClassicInternationalVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Muriel is a luminous, literary vintage name that revival-minded parents are beginning to rediscover.

Worth knowing

• Pronunciation splits between MYOOR-ee-el and MUR-ee-el.
• Still reads as an elderly name to many, despite its pretty meaning.