Myrel
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from myrrh.
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Myrel. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 69.1% of registrations being female. The average person named Myrel today is around 99 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Myrel births was 1921 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Myrel. 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 Myrel is about 99 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Myrels were born before 1937.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Myrel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1921
16 babies that year
Average age
99
years old
1932 SSA rank
#3,279
Tracked since 1914
Gender
Gender distribution for Myrel
Myrel is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 188 total registrations, 58 (30.9%) were male and 130 (69.1%) were female.
Myrel as a male name
- Ranked #3,279 in 1932
- 7 male births in 1932
- Peak: 1920 (11 births)
Myrel as a female name
- Ranked #4,780 in 1934
- 5 female births in 1934
- Peak: 1921 (11 births)
Popularity
Myrel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Myrel from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 99 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Myrel remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Myrel 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 Myrel 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 Myrel
The name Myrel is believed to have its origins in the ancient Celtic language, specifically the Gaulish branch spoken in what is now modern-day France and parts of Britain. It is thought to be derived from the Proto-Celtic root *mori, meaning "sea" or "ocean," combined with the diminutive suffix -el, indicating a small or endearing form.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Myrel can be found in the 7th-century Gaulish inscription Velleia, where it appears as Morilos, a masculine name. This suggests that the name may have originally been a unisex name or had gender-specific variants.
In the Middle Ages, the name Myrel gained popularity among the aristocracy and nobility in parts of France and England. It is mentioned in several medieval texts and genealogies, though its exact meaning and significance during this period are unclear.
One notable figure bearing the name Myrel was a 12th-century French noblewoman known as Myrel de Montfort (c. 1130-1190). She was the daughter of Simon III de Montfort, a powerful lord in northern France, and played a significant role in the administration of her family's lands.
Another prominent individual with the name Myrel was a 14th-century English knight, Sir Myrel de Vere (c. 1320-1385). He served in the Hundred Years' War and was renowned for his bravery and military prowess on the battlefield.
In the Renaissance period, the name Myrel experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among the intellectual and artistic circles of Italy. One notable bearer of the name was the Venetian painter Myrel Titian (c. 1488-1576), a contemporary of Michelangelo and Raphael, and renowned for his vivid use of color and masterful portraiture.
Another figure of note was the French philosopher and writer Myrel Montaigne (1533-1592), best known for his influential essays and philosophical writings on subjects such as education, friendship, and the human condition.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Myrel gradually fell out of widespread use, though it continued to be used in some regions and among certain families. One notable bearer from this period was the English poet and playwright Myrel Aphra Behn (1640-1689), considered one of the first professional female writers in English literature.
In more recent times, the name Myrel has experienced a modest resurgence, particularly in certain parts of Europe and among families with Celtic or French cultural connections. However, it remains a relatively uncommon name, often seen as unique and distinctive.
People
Myrel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Myrel 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
Myrel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Myrel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Myrel 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Myrel a common name?
We classify Myrel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 188 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Myrel most popular?
The single biggest year for Myrel was 1921, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Myrel is about 99 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Myrel a female name?
Yes, 69.1% of people registered as Myrel 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.
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.