Muriel
Girl name · 13 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Muriel: 13 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 1975.
Muriel is a name with deep Gaelic roots, coming from the Scottish and Irish "Muirgel," a combination of *muir* (sea) and *geal* (bright), so it originally meant "bright sea" or "sea-bright." Perhaps the most famous bearer is Scottish novelist Muriel Spark, author of *The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie*, while Muriel Siebert made history as the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. Though no major places are named after a Muriel, the name's maritime meaning connects it to countless coastal locations. Over the years, Muriel has also appeared in various spellings such as Muriella and Murielle; in Scotland, it enjoyed a particular popularity in the early 20th century before becoming rarer, giving it a sense of vintage charm for modern parents.
Girl 4 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19754 babies
- Latest (1981)
- #5373 babies
- Total births
- 13since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y