Given name & surname
Mariel
“of the shining sea”
Mariel is a form of Muriel. One Irish interpretation is “of the shining sea.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Mariel is a form of Muriel. One Irish interpretation is “of the shining sea.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Danish.
How it developed
In English use, Mariel is used as a shortened form of Mariella. Mariel is used as a form of Muriel.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1914. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Mariel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,603
- 121 boys · 7,482 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 303 babies
- 2025
- 303
- #893 for girls · #13,216 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +75%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 298 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 893 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 76.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 5 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (101). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 9,033 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.
Mariel’s family of names
In German usage, Mariel is a diminutive of Maria. Mariel is a form of Mary. In English usage, Mariel has a related form in Mariela.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Mariel has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Danish roots to each of them.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Mariel
- Mariel HemingwayAmerican actress and authorborn 1961
- Mariel ZagunisAmerican fencerborn 1985
- Mariel MolinoAmerican actress (born 1992/3)
- Mariel VázquezMexican mathematical biologistborn 2000
- TozoBrazilian footballerborn 1980
- Mariel RodriguezFilipino actressborn 1984
- Mariel PullesEstonian cross-country skier (born 1998)
- Mariel MaciáArgentinian film producerborn 1980
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Mariel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hallie
“from the hall” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Dahlia
“from the valley; resembling the flower”
>99% girls
Jetta
“resembling the jet-black lustrous gemstone”
>99% girls
Applegarth
“apple tree”
—
Maren
“of the sea; a seaman; a sailor” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Walbom
“walnut” · “tree”
—
Engholm
“meadow” · “small island”
—
Bjorklund
“birch tree” · “grove”
—