Myrtle
Myrtle is a feminine given name or nickname derived from the plant name Myrtus; it was popular during the Victorian era, along with other plant and flower names. Myrtle, a symbol of a happy marriage, is often included in a bridal bouquet. Variants include the French-language Myrtille, and Mirtel, a popular name for newborn girls in Estonia during 2012.
Meaning & Origin of Myrtle
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Myrtle is a feminine given name or nickname derived from the plant name Myrtus; it was popular during the Victorian era, along with other plant and flower names. Myrtle, a symbol of a happy marriage, is often included in a bridal bouquet. Variants include the French-language Myrtille, and Mirtel, a popular name for newborn girls in Estonia during 2012.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Myrtle
Myrtle first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1880, with 615 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1918, when 4,076 Myrtles were born — ranking #62 that year. As of 2026, Myrtle ranks #13,455 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 136K Myrtles have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Myrtle
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Myrtle Allen (1924–2018), Irish chef
- Myrtle Anderson (1901–1978), Jamaican actress
- Myrtle Augee (born 1965), English shot putter
- Myrtle Aydelotte (1917–2010), American nurse, professor and hospital administrator
- Myrtle Bachelder (1908–1997), American chemist and officer
- Myrtle Baylis (1920–2014), Australian sportswoman
- Myrtle Bothma (born 1964), South African hurdler
- Myrtle Brooke (1872–1948), American professor
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Myrtle
Phonetically similar names — useful when Myrtle 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 Myrtle
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About the name Myrtle
Myrtle is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 136K births in the dataset. Myrtle's peak popularity came in 1918 when it ranked #62. Use the chart and map above to compare Myrtle's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1918 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.