Mrytle
Greek name meaning "verdant" or "evergreen shrub."
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Mrytle. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Mrytle today is around 103 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mrytle births was 1917 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mrytle. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Mrytle is about 103 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Mrytles were born before 1933.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mrytle. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1917
10 babies that year
Average age
103
years old
1940 SSA rank
#4,842
Tracked since 1886
Popularity
Mrytle: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mrytle from the 1880s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 33 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mrytle by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Mrytle during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Mrytle
The given name Mrytle is derived from the ancient Greek word "myrtis," which means "myrtle," a fragrant evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region. The name's origins can be traced back to ancient Greece, where the myrtle plant held significant symbolism and was associated with the goddess Aphrodite, representing love, beauty, and fertility.
In Greek mythology, the myrtle was believed to have sprouted from the blood of Adonis, Aphrodite's lover, and was subsequently cherished by the goddess as a symbol of their love. The name Mrytle was likely adopted as a way to honor Aphrodite and the myrtle plant's symbolic significance.
While the name Mrytle does not appear in any major ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been documented in historical records dating back to the Renaissance period. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mrytle is from the 16th century, when it was used by English poet and playwright William Shakespeare in his play "Pericles, Prince of Tyre."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mrytle. One of the most famous was Mrytle Stedman (1856-1936), an American author and poet known for her works on nature and the American West. Another prominent figure was Mrytle Gonzalez (1891-1968), a Mexican-American actress and vaudeville performer who achieved fame during the early 20th century.
Mrytle Bache (1775-1845), the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and an influential figure in American society during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, also bore this name. Additionally, Mrytle Elvyn (1901-1973), a British stage and film actress, was a well-known performer in the mid-20th century.
Lastly, Mrytle Stedman Oakey (1914-2011), a Canadian artist and painter, was renowned for her vibrant landscapes and portraits depicting scenes from her native British Columbia.
People
Mrytle + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mrytle as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Mrytle: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mrytle?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mrytle going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Mrytle a common name?
We classify Mrytle as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 61 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mrytle most popular?
The single biggest year for Mrytle was 1917, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mrytle is about 103 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Mrytle in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Mrytle a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mrytle in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Mrytle still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Mrytle in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Mrytle can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Mrytle?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Mrytle on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.