Muriel Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Muriel has its origins in Old French and is associated with the meaning 'bright sea'. Its path of language evolution includes forms such as Murielle and Muriella. The name is often perceived as vintage and elegant, with a notable presence in literature through figures like Muriel Spark.
The name Muriel is most popular in Maine, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation 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, Muriel has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Muriel' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1634th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1763rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3375th 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 136th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 228th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 569th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1582nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2753rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4688th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5282nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Muriel' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Muriel"
Pronunciation
/ˈmjʊəriəl/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Muriel is derived from the Old French name 'Murielle', which is believed to be a diminutive form of 'Muriel' or a combination of the elements 'muir', meaning 'sea', and 'gheal', meaning 'bright' or 'shining'.
Meaning
bright sea
Language Evolution
Old French: Murielle, Latin: Muriella, Old Irish: Muirgheal
Historical Usage
Muriel gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Muriella, Muri, Muriella
Modern Popularity & Image
The name Muriel is considered somewhat old-fashioned today, often associated with vintage charm and classic elegance.
Famous People
Muriel Spark - Scottish novelist., Muriel Box - English screenwriter and director.
Explore More Muriel Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Muriel"
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 "Muriel"
"Muriel" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1634th of 7545 | 341 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1763rd of 6773 | 306 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3375th of 7552 | 110 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 10718th of 10718 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 136th of 9107 | 31,091 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 228th of 9204 | 14,811 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 569th of 12526 | 5,025 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1582nd of 19264 | 995 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2753rd of 27321 | 644 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4688th of 35406 | 455 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5282nd of 30306 | 297 |
Regional Popularity of "Muriel" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
91.44% 1261st/1379 |
66.48% 1573rd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
77.71% 2217th/2853 |
- |
| 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 "Muriel" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
9.82% 139th/1416 |
5.00% 69th/1379 |
11.16% 264th/2366 |
11.03% 126th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
13.07% 202nd/1546 |
8.23% 128th/1556 |
16.49% 388th/2353 |
15.97% 247th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
26.72% 595th/2227 |
17.16% 417th/2430 |
23.17% 661st/2853 |
25.01% 694th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
66.67% 1958th/2937 |
41.23% 1436th/3483 |
46.82% 1647th/3518 |
48.89% 1977th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
66.32% 2444th/3685 |
61.39% 2747th/4475 |
63.75% 3311th/5194 |
44.64% 2820th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
72.93% 3766th/5164 |
- |
63.37% 4729th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
92.70% 6324th/6822 |
80.77% 5069th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Muriel"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Muriel" 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.