Meryl
Meryl is a given name. Its origins are unclear, and include the following possibilities:Variant of Muriel, with Scottish and Irish Gaelic origins, meaning "bright sea" Of Greek origin, relating to myrrh A combination of Mary and Beryl
- English
Meaning & Origin of Meryl
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Meryl is a given name. Its origins are unclear, and include the following possibilities:Variant of Muriel, with Scottish and Irish Gaelic origins, meaning "bright sea" Of Greek origin, relating to myrrh A combination of Mary and Beryl
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Meryl
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Meryl as a girl name dates back to 1892, when 6 babies received it. 1956 was its biggest year on record, with 156 newborns named Meryl — #792 in the national rankings. About 25% of every Meryl on record arrived during the 1950s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Meryl ranks #5,653 for girls with 22 births, holding steady (-2%). All told, over 5K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1890s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Meryl on the record books as a boy name in 1912, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1921, when 18 Meryls were born — ranking #1,904 that year. About 30% of every Meryl on record arrived during the 1920s, its defining decade. Meryl last appeared in the published SSA data in 1967, with 5 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 431 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Meryl
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Meryl. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Meryl
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Meryl Cassie (born 1984), New Zealand actress
- Meryl Davis (born 1987), American ice dancer
- Meryl Fernandes (born 1983), British actress
- Meryl Fernando (1923-2007), Sri Lankan Sinhala teacher, trade unionist, and politician
- Meryl Frank , American politician, diplomat, and author
- Meryl Getline (1953–2019), American pilot, author, and columnist
- Meryl Mark (1938-2006), South African tennis player
- Meryl McMaster (born 1988), Canadian and Plains Cree photographer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Meryl
Phonetically similar names — useful when Meryl is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Meryl
What does the name Meryl mean?
What is the origin of the name Meryl?
How popular is Meryl in 2026?
When was Meryl most popular?
In which U.S. states is Meryl most popular?
Is Meryl a unisex name?
What names go well with Meryl?
What are nicknames or variants of Meryl?
About the name Meryl
Meryl is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1892 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Meryl's peak popularity came in 1956 when it ranked #747. Use the chart and map above to compare Meryl's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1956 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.