Meryl
Girl name · Anglo Saxon · English · French
Meaningshining sea · English form of Muriel
- US rank
- #8,362
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #747 in 1952
12 babies were named Meryl in the US in 2025. It has dropped 2,875 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1892–2025
US births per million boys, 1912–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Meryl you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 133,333 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Meryl, 12 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Meryl would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMeryl first shows up in US birth records in 1892, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 133 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1952, when it ranked #747. Today it's #8,362, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendMeryl has slipped 2,875 places over the last five years and now sits at #8,362. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningMeryl is an English form of Muriel, which means “shining sea”. Our records link it to Anglo Saxon, English and French roots.
About the name Meryl
Meryl is a girl name of Anglo Saxon, English and French origin meaning “shining sea”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-ryl”. US birth records list Meryl for girls from 1892 to 2025, in 128 of those 134 years. Its best year was 1952, when it ranked #747 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #8,362, with 12 babies.
Origin:Anglo Saxon namesEnglish namesFrench names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 17 | 60,060 girls |
| 1900s | 17 | 58,858 girls |
| 1910s | 23 | 42,571 girls |
| 1920s | 26 | 37,864 girls |
| 1930s | 27 | 36,765 girls |
| 1940s | 41 | 24,420 girls |
| 1950s | 67 | 14,948 girls |
| 1960s | 33 | 30,488 girls |
| 1970s | 13 | 78,309 girls |
| 1980s | 39 | 25,880 girls |
| 1990s | 19 | 53,996 girls |
| 2000s | 11 | 91,241 girls |
| 2010s | 15 | 66,711 girls |
| 2020s | 11 | 88,235 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 9.1 | 109,890 boys |
| 1920s | 12 | 84,175 boys |
| 1930s | 9.2 | 108,342 boys |
| 1940s | 5.6 | 178,571 boys |
| 1950s | 2.2 | 448,430 boys |
| 1960s | 1.0 | 1,025,641 boys |
Other spellings of Meryl
More Anglo Saxon girl names
- Girl name: Daisy · day's eye
- Girl name: Audrey · noble strength
- Girl name: Gemma · gem
- Girl name: Esme · esteemed
- Girl name: Gwendolyn · white ring
- Girl name: Florence · flourishing
- Girl name: Bonnie · pretty
- Girl name: Edith · prosperous in war
Questions about the name Meryl
What does the name Meryl mean?
Meryl means “shining sea” in English, as a form of Muriel.
What is the origin of the name Meryl?
Meryl has Anglo Saxon, English, French roots in our records. Other Anglo Saxon names include Daisy, Audrey, Gemma.
Is Meryl a boy or girl name?
Meryl is a girl name.
How popular is the name Meryl?
Meryl ranked #8,362 for US girls in 2025, given to 12 babies. Its best year was 1952 (#747).