Muriel
Meaningbright as the sea · Irish
Muriel is a Gaelic girl name meaning “bright as the sea”, with Irish roots. Irish names are loved for their lilting sound and their links to Celtic saints and legends. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Word funMuriel doesn't repeat a single letter: 6 letters, all different.
- GenerationMuriel peaked in 1922, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Muriel would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 50,251 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryMuriel has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Muriels, and counting.
US births per million girls, 1880–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Muriel
Muriel is a girl name of Gaelic origin meaning “bright as the sea”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It was most fashionable in the 1920s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm, and it's now coming back into style. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Gaelic names
More Gaelic girl names
- Girl name: Nora · honor
- Girl name: Hazel · hazel tree
- Girl name: Isla · from Islay
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
- Unisex name: Quinn · descendant of Conn
- Girl name: Alana · possibly little rock
Questions about the name Muriel
What does the name Muriel mean?
Muriel means “bright as the sea” and comes from Irish. Names built around “sea” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Kai (“sea”), Kehlani (“sea and sky”), Rosemary (“dew of the sea”) and Kailani (“sea and sky”).
What is the origin of the name Muriel?
Muriel is Gaelic in origin, and its meaning traces back to Irish. Other Gaelic names to consider are Nora (“honor”), Hazel (“hazel tree”), Isla (“from Islay”) and Riley (“rye clearing”).
Is Muriel a boy or girl name?
Muriel is a girl name. In 2025, 32 US girls were named Muriel.
How popular is the name Muriel?
Muriel ranked #4,352 for US girls in 2025, given to 32 babies. Its best year was 1922, when it reached #112. Over the last five years it has climbed 1,498 places.
What names are similar to Muriel?
If you like Muriel, you might also like Kai, Kehlani, Rosemary and Kailani.
What should I know before naming my baby Muriel?
Muriel is a Gaelic girl name meaning “bright as the sea”, with Irish roots. Irish names are loved for their lilting sound and their links to Celtic saints and legends. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.