Holding steady.
Popularity of Murl since 1885
Babies named Murl per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Murl's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 | 5 |
| 1890s | 41 | 40 |
| 1900s | 58 | 68 |
| 1910s | 166 | 365 |
| 1920s | 201 | 511 |
| 1930s | 108 | 362 |
| 1940s | 36 | 266 |
| 1950s | 11 | 185 |
| 1960s | 0 | 94 |
| 1970s | 0 | 34 |
| 1980s | 0 | 11 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Murl is a rare given name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the French word for blackbird or from the Gaelic elements for sea and bright. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1886 and saw its peak usage in 1901, during a period when short, simple names were fashionable. Despite its early-20th-century roots, Murl has never been common, and it has remained stable in rarity since then. The name does not appear among the top states, consistent with its low overall usage. Its unisex nature reflects the flexibility of the era, though it has never achieved widespread popularity. Today, Murl is a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name with a vintage feel and a mysterious etymology.
Murl is a rare given name of uncertain origin. It may be a variant of the English name Merle, which derives from the French merle meaning 'blackbird', or a short form of the Scottish name Muriel, from the Gaelic muir 'sea' and gael 'bright'. The name saw modest use in the United States in the early 20th century, particularly in the 1900s, and has remained uncommon since.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Murl
Names that share Murl's style, for a brother or sister.
