Given name · also Greek
Beryl
“resembling the pale-green precious stone”·“little bear”
Beryl is used as a given name. Interpretations include “resembling the pale-green precious stone” (English) and “little bear” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “resembling the pale-green precious stone” (English) and “little bear” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Beryl through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 12,468
- 2,338 boys · 10,130 girls
- Most popular year
- 1920
- 379 babies
- 2025
- 8
- #11,101 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −31%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 0% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 8 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 11,101 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for girls was 311 in 1920. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,009 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Beryl’s family of names
In English usage, Beryl has an affectionate form in Berry. Beryl has a related form in Beril. Beryl has a related form in Berill.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Beryl
- Beryl BainbridgeEnglish writer (1932–2010)
- Beryl MarkhamBritish writer, aviator, adventurer, racehorse trainer (1902–1986)
- Beryl PenroseAustralian tennis player (1930–2021)
- Beryl ReidBritish actress (1919–1996)
- Beryl BurtonEnglish racing cyclist (1937-1996)
- Beryl Merceractress (1882–1939)
- Béryl GastaldelloFrench swimmerborn 1995
- Beryl CunninghamItalian actress (1946–2020)
- Beryl GilroyGuyanese writer (1924-2001)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Beryl, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Neoma
“born under the new moon”
>99% girls
Pansy
“as delicate as a flower; a thoughtful girl”
>99% girls
Ione
“resembling the violet flower”
>99% girls
Verna
“woman from Verona” · “from the alder-tree grove”
>99% girls
Bernice
“one who brings victory”
>99% girls
Iola
“of the violet-colored dawn”
>99% girls
Jewell
“one who is playful; resembling a precious gem”
21% boys · 79% girls
Bernadine
“one who has bearlike strength and courage” · “as strong and brave as a bear”
>99% girls