Muriel
Muriel: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmjʊəɹɪ.əl/ · /ˈmjʉɹi.əl/
Meaning and origin of Muriel
Root meaning: “sea”
- A female given name from Scottish Gaelic of mostly British usage.
Etymology
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Muireall, from muir (“sea”), from Old Irish muir, from Proto-Celtic *mori, from Proto-Indo-European *móri; + geal (“white, bright”), from Old Irish gel, from Proto-Celtic *gelos (“yellow, white”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- (“green, yellow”).
How popular is Muriel?
Since 1880, 54,884 girls and 762 boys in the U.S. have been named Muriel (99% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #112 in 1922. Its highest rank for boys was #1169 in 1907. In 2025, 32 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Muriel
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Scottish girl names
Sibling name ideas for Muriel
Sister and brother names that share Muriel's Scottish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Muriel FAQ
What does the name Muriel mean?
Muriel traces back to a root meaning "sea". A female given name from Scottish Gaelic of mostly British usage. Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Muireall, from muir (“sea”), from Old Irish muir, from Proto-Celtic *mori, from Proto-Indo-European *móri; + geal (“white, bright”), from Old Irish gel, from Proto-Celtic *gelos (“yellow, white”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- (“green, yellow”).
What is the origin of the name Muriel?
Muriel is listed as a name of Scottish origin.
How popular is the name Muriel?
Since 1880, 54,884 girls and 762 boys in the U.S. have been named Muriel (99% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #112 in 1922. Its highest rank for boys was #1169 in 1907. In 2025, 32 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Muriel a boy or girl name?
Muriel is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 54,884 girls and 762 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.