Muriel (given name)


Muriel is a feminine given name in the English language.

Origin/history

The name is of Goidelic origin and was originally spelled as Muirgheal in Irish and Muireall in Scottish Gaelic. Various versions have long been evident in Breton, Irish, and Scottish Gaelic languages. The name was very common in medieval England, typically in the form of "Merial". Unusually for a name of Celtic origin, it remained common after the Norman Conquest, although rare from about 1300.
Remaining common in Scotland as Muriel, the name in this form was introduced back into England in the mid-19th century, facilitated by Dinah Craik's 1856 novel John Halifax, Gentleman whose title character's daughter is named Muriel. Born in 1802, Muriel is said to be named "after the rather peculiar name of John's mother."
The name Meryl may be a variant of Muriel.
The name Muriel was listed in the top 200 names from 1912 to 1933, with its highest rate of popularity in the 1920s.

People with the given name

Fictional characters