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Home › Baby Names Directory › Morrell

Morrell

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Morrell

Pronounced muh-REL /məˈrɛl/Medium

Meaning: Morrell is a surname turned given name, from the Old French morel, a byname for someone dark-haired or dark-complexioned, itself from Latin maurus, moorish or dark. It overlaps with the related surname Murrell, and families used both as first names.Low

In 30 seconds: Morrell is an English surname-name from the Old French for dark or swarthy, kin to Murrell. It was given to only a handful of boys a year in the early twentieth century.
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Origin MediumEnglish, French
MeaningMorrell is a surname turned given name, from the Old French morel, a byname for someone dark-haired or dark-complexioned, itself from Latin maurus, moorish or dark. It overlaps with the related surname Murrell, and families used both as first names.
U.S. rank (2017)#13617 ↘ Falling
2017 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1919
Total births (all-time)≈ 692

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191919142017

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

Morrell began as a surname built on the Old French morel, a nickname for a dark or swarthy person, from the Latin maurus. Alongside the twin surname Murrell, it moved into American use as a given name, in the old habit of turning family names into first names. Its meaning stays tied to that original sense of darkness of hair or skin.

Morrell was never common, given to only a handful of boys a year around the end of the nineteen-tens, and it faded steadily after. A man named Morrell from that era would belong to a great-grandparent generation now.

Did you know? The root behind Morrell, the Old French morel, also named a dark-coated horse and a dark mushroom, all sharing the same idea of deep, dusky color.
Overall data confidence 55%
References - Morrell — Old French morel dark; surname; linked Murrell

Variations

MurrellMorrelMorel

Nicknames

MorryRell

Famous Bearers

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If you like Morrell…

Merrill— a like surname-style boy's name
Murrell— the closely related twin surname
Darnell— a similar two-syllable -ell name
Terrell— a comparable surname-derived first name

Explore names like Morrell

By themerareenglishvintagesurname-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Morrell mean?

It comes from the Old French morel, dark or swarthy, and began as a surname nickname for a dark-haired person.

How do you pronounce Morrell?

It is said muh-REL /məˈrɛl/, two syllables with the stress on the second.

Is Morrell a boy or girl name?

Morrell is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Morrell?

It has always been rare, given to only a handful of boys a year around the end of the nineteen-tens.

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