Muriel
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Muriel
Once a poetic Celtic name, that of the angel who governs the month of June, Muriel has for a time, become the mom or grandma of TV sitcoms. A Top 200 name from 1912 to 1933, Muriel might just be due for a comeback, fitting as it does with the likes of Margot, Mabel, Marjorie, and Marilyn.
Traditionally written as Muirgel in Old Irish, it was also common in Medieval England (often in the form of Merial) and while it did see a decline after the Norman Conquest, it didn't disappear completely. The Muriel form remained familiar in Scotland and was eventually brought back to England in the 1850s, following its appearance in Dinah Craik's novel, John Halifax, Gentleman.
Muriel has further literary cred via Edinburgh-born author Muriel Spark, author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and also appears as a character in l. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, in George Orwell's Animal Farm, and in Anne Tyler's The Accidental Tourist.
Ultimately derived from the Old Irish elements muir and gel, Muriel is an water-inspired choice meaning "sea bright" or "bright sea". Distinctive in sound (MYURE-ee-uhl in English; MUE-RHYEL in French), Muriel was given to 50 girls in the US in a recent count: the highest number recorded since the 80s!
Muriel is also given to boys.
Pronounced MYOOR-ul.
As of October 2026, Muriel ranked #4430 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #112 in 1922.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #4,735 | 30 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #4,943 | 28 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #4,954 | 27 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #3,198 | 50 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #4,430 | 32 | — | 0 |
Similar names
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Muriel on lists
Famous Muriels
- Muriel Sarah SparkGirl
Scottish novelist
- (Violette) Muriel BoxGirl
English screenwriter and director
- Muriel Faye "Mickie" SiebertGirl
American financier; first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange
- Muriel RukeyserGirl
American poet
- Muriel DayGirl
Northern Irish singer
- Muriel Elizabeth BowserGirl
American politician; mayor of the District of Columbia
- Muriel Irene McBrien KauffmanGirl
American philanthropist; founding co,owner of the Kansas City Royals baseball team
- Muriel Lilian PavlowGirl
British actress
- Muriel Burrell SmithGirl
American singer and actress
- Muriel BeaumontGirl
Lady du Maurier, English actress; mother of novelist Daphne du Maurier
- Muriel BoucherGirl
Zazoui, French ice dancing coach
- Muriel AngelusGirl
English actress
Muriel in pop culture
- MurielGirl
character in the mobile game 'The Arcana'
- Muriel RushGirl
character on TV's "Too Close for Comfort"
- "Muriel's WeddingGirl
" 1994 film
- Muriel HeslopGirl
main character in "Muriel's Wedding"
- Great Aunt Muriel WeasleyGirl
character in the "Harry Potter" series
- Muriel BaggeGirl
elderly main character on animated series "Courage the Cowardly Dog"
- Muriel P. FinsterGirl
character in animated series "Recess"
- MurielGirl
character on TV's "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody"
- Muriel BlandingsGirl
wife of the title character in "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House"
- Muriel GoldmanGirl
character on TV's "Family Guy"
- MurielGirl
wise old goat in George Orwell's "Animal Farm"
- Lady Muriel OrmeGirl
main character in Lewis Carroll's Sylvie and Bruno novels
- Muriel McComberGirl
main character in Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness!" (1933)
- Muriel PritchettGirl
character in Anne Tyler's "The Accidental Tourist" (1985)
- Muriel StacyGirl
Anne's teacher in L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series
- MurielGirl
villain in film "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" (2013)
- MurielGirl
character in 1998 made,for,tv film "David and Lisa"
- Muriel GlassGirl
Seymour Glass's girlfriend and then wife in J.D.Salinger's works
- Chandler Muriel BingGirl
character on NBC's "Friends"