Muriel

At a Glance: Name: Muriel – Meaning: sea-bright (fair/bright combined with 'sea') – Origin: Scottish Gaelic (Anglicized) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: MYUR-ee-el

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Muriel (MYUR-ee-el) is a vintage, romantic, storybook name for a girl, with Scottish Gaelic roots that were Anglicized over time. It's built from the sense of 'fair' or 'bright' combined with 'sea', so it reads as 'sea-bright'. If you love names with an old-fashioned feel and a soft, three-syllable sound, Muriel delivers both.

Meaning & Origin of Muriel

Meaning: Sea-bright (fair/bright combined with 'sea').

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (Anglicized).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Muriel

Phonetic: MYUR-ee-el   IPA: /ˈmjʊriəl/

Popularity of Muriel

Muriel peaked at #112 in 1922, when 2,392 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #3198 with 50 babies, so a child named Muriel today would rarely meet another.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Muriel Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Muriel, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Maisy
• Aurelie
• Aurore
• Blanche
• Bonnie
• Clyde

FAQ

What does the name Muriel mean?

Sea-bright (fair/bright combined with ‘sea’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Muriel)

How do you pronounce Muriel?

Muriel is pronounced MYUR-ee-el (IPA: /ˈmjʊriəl/).

Is Muriel a popular name right now?

Muriel peaked at #112 in 1922 and is ranked #3198 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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