Meryl Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Meryl is a French name derived from the Old French Muriel or Gaelic Muirgheal, meaning 'sea bright' or 'bright sea'. It evolved through various forms, including Muriel and Murièle, before becoming widely recognized as Meryl. The name is linked to elegance and success, particularly through notable figures like Meryl Streep. It has no biblical significance.
The name Meryl is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Meryl has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Meryl' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2464th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2583rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3665th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10718th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1536th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1366th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 970th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2561st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2240th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5646th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5350th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Meryl' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Meryl"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɛrəl/
Origin
French
Etymology
The name Meryl is derived from the name Muriel, which has roots in the Old French name 'Murièle' or the Gaelic 'Muirgheal', meaning 'sea bright' or 'bright sea'.
Meaning
sea bright, bright sea
Language Evolution
Muriel, Murièle, Meryl
Historical Usage
The name Meryl gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States, partly due to the fame of actress Meryl Streep.
Variants & Derivatives
Muriel, Murièle, Meryl Streep
Modern Popularity & Image
Meryl is perceived as a sophisticated and elegant name, often associated with talent and success due to its association with prominent figures in the entertainment industry.
Famous People
Meryl Streep, Meryl Davis
Explore More Meryl Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Meryl"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Meryl"
"Meryl" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2464th of 7545 | 176 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2583rd of 6773 | 160 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3665th of 7552 | 90 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 10718th of 10718 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1536th of 9107 | 481 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1366th of 9204 | 584 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 970th of 12526 | 2,085 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2561st of 19264 | 475 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2240th of 27321 | 855 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 5646th of 35406 | 352 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5350th of 30306 | 291 |
Regional Popularity of "Meryl" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
74.79% 1059th/1416 |
- | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Meryl" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
79.17% 1121st/1416 |
100.00% 1379th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
75.55% 1168th/1546 |
42.16% 656th/1556 |
89.04% 2095th/2353 |
100.00% 1547th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
73.10% 1628th/2227 |
17.82% 433rd/2430 |
100.00% 2853rd/2853 |
81.08% 2250th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 2937th/2937 |
31.55% 1099th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
62.99% 2321st/3685 |
31.37% 1404th/4475 |
76.32% 3964th/5194 |
46.34% 2927th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
76.45% 3948th/5164 |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
92.47% 6901st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
94.70% 3773rd/3984 |
- | - |
84.00% 5272nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Meryl"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Meryl" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.