Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Murl isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1885. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Murl through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,567
- 1,941 boys · 626 girls
- Most popular year
- 1924
- 84 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 76% boys.
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1983. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 654 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.
Similar names
If you love Murl, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Merl
“resembling a blackbird”
90% boys · 10% girls
Burl
“from the knotted wood”
>99% boys
Morton
“from the town near the moor”
>99% boys
Milford
“from the mill's ford”
>99% boys
Merton
“from the village near the pond” · “from the town near the lake”
>99% boys
Malvin
“a leader” · “a friend who offers counsel”
>99% boys
Melton
“from the mill town”
>99% boys
Milburn
“from the mill stream”
>99% boys