Girl · #5,009 in 2026

Methyl

In organic chemistry, a methyl group is an alkyl derived from methane, containing one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms, having chemical formula CH3. In formulas, the group is often abbreviated as Me. This hydrocarbon group occurs in many organic compounds. It is a very stable group in most molecules.

Current Rank
#5,009
Peak Rank
#3,817 (1919)
Total Babies
29
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1915
First Year
1922
Last Year
1919
Peak Year
#3817
Peak Rank
29
Total Count
5
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Methyl

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

In organic chemistry, a methyl group is an alkyl derived from methane, containing one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms, having chemical formula CH3. In formulas, the group is often abbreviated as Me. This hydrocarbon group occurs in many organic compounds. It is a very stable group in most molecules.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
French chemists Jean-Baptiste Dumas and Eugene Peligot , after determining methanol's chemical structure, introduced " methylene " from the Greek μέθυ ( methy ) "wine" and ὕλη ( hȳlē ) "wood, patch of trees" with the intention of highlighting its origins, "alcohol made from wood (substance)". The term "methyl" was derived in about 1840 by back-formation from "methylene", and was then applied to describe "methyl alcohol" (which since 1892 is called " methanol "). Methyl is the IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry term for an alkane (or alkyl) molecule, using the prefix "meth-" to indicate th

The Story of Methyl

Methyl first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1915, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1919, when 7 Methyls were born — ranking #3,817 that year. As of 2026, Methyl ranks #5,009 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 29 Methyls have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Methyl

Phonetically similar names — useful when Methyl is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Methal
  • Methol
  • Metal
  • Mettle
  • Mechelle
  • Messel
  • Memel
  • Mesl
  • Meckel
  • Mehle
  • Mesel
  • Missile

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Methyl

What does the name Methyl mean?
In organic chemistry, a methyl group is an alkyl derived from methane, containing one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms, having chemical formula CH3. In formulas, the group is often abbreviated as Me. This hydrocarbon group occurs in many organic compounds. It is a very stable group in most molecules.
How popular is Methyl in 2026?
In 2026, Methyl ranks #5,009 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Methyl most popular?
Methyl reached its peak popularity in 1919, ranking #3,817 that year with 7 babies given the name.
Is Methyl a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Methyl is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Methyl?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Methyl include Affie, Lousia, Girtrue. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Affie
Peak #3817
👧
Lousia
Peak #3817
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Girtrue
Peak #3817
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Ozelia
Peak #3817
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Melissie
Peak #3817
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Alberdia
Peak #3817
👧
Erlean
Peak #3817
👧
Estellene
Peak #3817

About the name Methyl

Methyl is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1915 and has accumulated 29 births in the dataset. Methyl's peak popularity came in 1919 when it ranked #3,817. Use the chart and map above to compare Methyl's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.