Given name
Meryl
“resembling a blackbird”·“of the shining sea”
Meryl is a variant of Merle. One French interpretation is “resembling a blackbird.” Meryl is a variant of Merrill. One English interpretation is “of the shining sea.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Meryl is a variant of Merle. One French interpretation is “resembling a blackbird.” Meryl is a variant of Merrill. One English interpretation is “of the shining sea.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
Meryl is used as a form of Muriel.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1892. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Meryl is a variant of Merrill. The history of Merrill gives this family its wider story. Merrill’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Meryl through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,599
- 432 boys · 5,167 girls
- Most popular year
- 1956
- 156 babies
- 2025
- 12
- #8,689 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- 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 12 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 8,689 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 26.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 156 in 1956. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,475 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.
Meryl’s family of names
Meryl has a related form in Merle. Meryl is a form of Merle. In English usage, Meryl has a related form in Muriel.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 15
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 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Meryl
- Meryl DavisAmerican ice dancerborn 1987
- Meryl O'Hara WoodAustralian tennis player (2000–1958)
- Meryl CassieNew Zealand actress and singerborn 1984
- Meryl FernandesIndian-born English actressborn 1983
Characters named Meryl: Meryl Silverburgh (Metal Gear).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Meryl, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Marni
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Shelley
“from the bank's meadow” · “from the meadow's ledge”
>99% girls
Toni
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
8% boys · 92% girls
Cherry
“resembling a fruit-bearing tree”
>99% girls
Tina
Tina is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the river; also shortened torm of names ending in -tina.”
>99% girls
Marilla
“of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Meaburn
“meadow” · “stream”
—
Maribeth
“star of the sea” · “from the sea of bitterness”
>99% girls