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Murl
How to Pronounce Murl
Pronounced MURL /ΛmΙrl/High
Meaning: Murl is a phonetic variant of Merle, a unisex name from the French merle and Latin merula, 'blackbird'. It also served as a short form or byform of Myrtle. Spelled Murl, it was used for both girls and boys in early-twentieth-century America, here recorded for girls.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Murl is a spelling of Merle, from the French merle and Latin merula, 'blackbird', a unisex name that dipped in and out of use in early-twentieth-century America. It also overlapped with clipped forms of Myrtle. This plain, single-syllable spelling reads as distinctly rural and old-fashioned.
Murl was always uncommon, appearing faintly in the early nineteen-hundreds for both girls and boys before fading by mid-century. A person named Murl then would be of a great-grandparent's generation now; the name reads as thoroughly antique.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Murl mean?
Murl is a variant of Merle, from the French merle and Latin merula meaning 'blackbird'; it also echoes Myrtle.
How do you pronounce Murl?
It's said MURL /ΛmΙrl/ - one syllable.
Is Murl a boy or girl name?
Murl is used here as a girl's name, though Merle and Murl were unisex.
How popular is Murl?
Murl has always been uncommon, a vintage variant of Merle now very rarely used.