Holding steady.
Popularity of Merriel since 1912
Babies named Merriel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Merriel's real moment was 1912.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 |
| 1920s | 28 | 8 |
| 1930s | 28 | 0 |
| 1940s | 30 | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Merriel is a rare and delicate name with a melodic quality, first recorded in 1912. Its peak year of usage was also 1912, indicating that it never gained widespread popularity. The name has maintained a stable but exceedingly low trajectory since then, with fewer than five babies per year typically receiving it. While its exact origin is unclear, it likely emerged as a variant of similar names like Muriel or Marion, or as a creative modern coinage. Because it has never broken into the top 1,000, parents choosing Merriel today can offer their child a genuinely unique name. Its soft ending and familiar nickname possibilities (Merry) give it a gentle, approachable feel.
Merriel is a rare name of English origin, first recorded in the United States in 1912. It may be a variant of Muriel, which itself derives from the Irish name Muirgel, meaning 'bright sea,' or a variant of Marion, a diminutive of Mary. Alternatively, Merriel could be a modern coinage combining elements from names like Mary or Meredith with the fashionable '-iel' suffix. Its usage has remained stable but extremely uncommon, with very few instances in historical records.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Merry, Riel
Sibling names for Merriel
Names that share Merriel's style, for a brother or sister.
