Given name & surname · also Irish, Celtic
Muriel
“of the shining sea”
Muriel is used as a given name and a surname. One Irish interpretation is “of the shining sea.”
Original IrishMuirgheal
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Irish interpretation is “of the shining sea.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Celtic.
How it developed
In English usage, Muriel developed from Muireall.
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. In English use, Muriel has a related form in 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
Muriel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 55,646
- 762 boys · 54,884 girls
- Most popular year
- 1922
- 2,407 babies
- 2025
- 32
- #4,430 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +42%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 32 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,430 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 41.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,392 in 1922. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 15,477 as a first name in 2020; 1,646 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Muriel’s family of names
In English usage, Muriel developed from the Scottish Gaelic form Muireall. In English usage, Muriel has a related form in Merle. In English usage, Muriel has a related form in Merrill.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Muriel has relatives in 18 languages. Lines run from its Proto-Celtic roots to each of them.
33 related names in 18 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 28
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Merlevariant · English
- Merrillvariant · English
- Merylvariant · English
- Murriellikely variant
- Merrilvariant · English
- Murrillvariant · English
- Murrellvariant · English
- Merrellvariant · English
Show 20 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 24
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 Muriel
- Muriel SparkScottish novelist and writer (1918–2006)
- Muriel BarberyFrench writerborn 1969
- Muriel BowserMayor of the District of Columbia since 2015born 1972
- Muriel RobbEnglish tennis player (1878–1907)
- Muriel HumphreyAmerican politician (1912–1998)
- Muriel Hurtis-HouairiFrench sprinterborn 1979
- Muriel RobinFrench actress and comedianborn 1955
- Muriel PavlowBritish actress (1921-2019)
- Muriel Rukeyserpoet and political activist (1913–1980)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Muriel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mallie
“one who is sweet and gentle” · “star of the sea”
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Jewell
“one who is playful; resembling a precious gem”
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Una
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Dovie
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Lorene
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
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Lilla
Lilla is a variant of Lily. One English interpretation is “resembling the flower; one who is innocent and beautiful.”
>99% girls
Antoinette
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
>99% girls
Rosina
“horse” · “fame”
>99% girls