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Sorrel

Girl name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Sorrel: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 1976.

Sorrel is a gentle botanical name drawn from the herbaceous plant, its roots tracing through Old French *surele* to a Germanic word for ‘sour’—a nod to the plant’s tangy leaves. Though used for both boys and girls, it has a particularly soft, earthy feel in English-speaking Scotland. Notable bearers include American composer Sorrel Hays, who championed avant-garde music, and British journalist Sorrel Moseley-Williams. While no major place shares the name directly, the plant itself grows wild across Scottish hillsides, lending a subtle local connection. As a horse colour term, ‘sorrel’ also describes a reddish-brown coat, and the name is sometimes considered a variant of the surname Sorel, famously associated with the Renaissance beauty Agnès Sorel. This quiet, nature-linked choice offers a fresh alternative to more common herb-inspired names.