Myrtle Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Myrtle has Greek origins, deriving from the word 'myrtus', which refers to the myrtle plant associated with love and beauty. The name has evolved through Latin and Old French into its current form. It became popular in the 19th century as a floral name and is now viewed as vintage and charming, with no significant biblical relevance. Notable figures include Myrtle Corbin and the namesake of Myrtle Beach.
The name Myrtle is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South 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, Myrtle has been 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 female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Myrtle' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1962nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2877th out of 6773 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 60th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 167th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 519th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1803rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6689th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 28780th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 16629th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Myrtle' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Myrtle"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɜːrtəl/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Myrtle is derived from the Greek word 'myrtus', which refers to the myrtle plant. The myrtle has been associated with love and beauty throughout history.
Meaning
evergreen shrub, love, beauty
Language Evolution
Latin: myrtus, Old French: mirtile, Middle English: mirthe
Historical Usage
The name Myrtle gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a floral name that reflected a connection to nature.
Variants & Derivatives
Myrtice, Myrtle-Ann
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Myrtle is often perceived as a vintage name, evoking images of nature and traditional femininity. It has seen a resurgence in popularity as vintage names have become trendy.
Famous People
Myrtle Corbin, an American sideshow performer, Myrtle Beach, a popular vacation destination named after the myrtle plant
Explore More Myrtle Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Myrtle"
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 "Myrtle"
"Myrtle" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1962nd of 7545 | 261 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2877th of 6773 | 127 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 60th of 9107 | 76,071 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 167th of 9204 | 23,550 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 519th of 12526 | 6,064 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1803rd of 19264 | 818 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 6689th of 27321 | 182 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 28780th of 35406 | 12 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 16629th of 30306 | 43 |
Regional Popularity of "Myrtle" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| 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 "Myrtle" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
5.72% 81st/1416 |
8.92% 123rd/1379 |
1.86% 44th/2366 |
7.97% 91st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
12.74% 197th/1546 |
15.75% 245th/1556 |
4.97% 117th/2353 |
15.06% 233rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
31.39% 699th/2227 |
36.75% 893rd/2430 |
12.34% 352nd/2853 |
33.80% 938th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
77.02% 2262nd/2937 |
73.41% 2557th/3483 |
39.82% 1401st/3518 |
100.00% 4044th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Myrtle"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Myrtle" 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.