Holding steady.
Popularity of Myrle since 1884
Babies named Myrle per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Myrle's real moment was 1897.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 36 | 0 |
| 1890s | 172 | 0 |
| 1900s | 243 | 18 |
| 1910s | 643 | 168 |
| 1920s | 684 | 214 |
| 1930s | 358 | 134 |
| 1940s | 186 | 99 |
| 1950s | 71 | 59 |
| 1960s | 12 | 11 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Myrle is a rare, turn-of-the-century name that has all but vanished from use today. First recorded in 1884, it reached its peak in 1897, making it a hallmark of late Victorian naming trends. The name is likely a respelling of Muriel or a variant of Merle, both of which have Gaelic or French roots. Despite being unisex, Myrle was more often given to girls. Its trajectory has remained stable but at extremely low numbers, and it currently has no rank or one-in-N ratio due to the small number of births. Top states for its use are not recorded, suggesting it was scattered rather than regionally concentrated. For parents drawn to vintage, obscure names, Myrle offers a soft, melodic sound with a touch of historical charm.
Myrle is a 19th-century English coinage, likely a respelling or variant of the name Muriel. Muriel is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Muirgel, which is composed of elements meaning 'sea' and 'bright'. Alternatively, Myrle may have been influenced by the English surname Merle, derived from a bird name. The name saw modest use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Myrle
Names that share Myrle's style, for a brother or sister.
