Berle

♂ Boy

Pronounced BURL /ˈbɜːrl/Medium

Meaning: Berle is a spelling variant of Burl, an English word for a knot or lump in wood and yarn. The name also stands close to Merle, and both were worn as short, sturdy early-century boys' names.Low

In 30 seconds: Berle is a variant of Burl, an English word for a knot in wood, also close to Merle. It was always rare and peaked in the nineteen-forties (said BURL).

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowEnglish

MeaningBerle is a spelling variant of Burl, an English word for a knot or lump in wood and yarn. The name also stands close to Merle, and both were worn as short, sturdy early-century boys' names.

U.S. rank (1962)#3335 ↘ Falling

1962 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1941

Total births (all-time)≈ 331

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Berle is a variant of Burl, the English word for a knot or burl in timber, and it sits beside Merle in sound and era. Short, plain, and rustic, it belongs to the class of homely one-syllable names American families favored in the early twentieth century.

The spelling stayed rare, reaching a small high around 1941 before fading by the nineteen-sixties. A Berle from that time belongs to a grandfather's or great-grandfather's generation now.

Did you know? The folksy word-name Burl was carried by the beloved singer and actor Burl Ives, whose fame in the mid-century helped keep the small name family in gentle use.

Overall data confidence 30%

References - Berle — Variant of Burl (English 'knot in wood'); cf. Merle; Burl Ives era

Variations

BurlMerleBurle

Nicknames

BeeBurlMerle

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Berle…

Burl— the word-name Berle varies

Merle— a like short vintage boy's name it neighbors

Earl— another plain one-syllable early-century name

Burton— shares the Bur- sound and vintage feel

Explore names like Berle

By themerare vintage word-name variant

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Berle mean?

It is a variant of Burl, an English word for a knot in wood, and it stands close to Merle.

How do you pronounce Berle?

It is said BURL /ˈbɜːrl/, one syllable.

Is Berle a boy or girl name?

Berle is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Berle?

It has always been rare in the United States, peaking in the nineteen-forties.