Murle

♂ Boy

Pronounced MERL /ˈmɜrl/Medium

Meaning: Murle is a spelling variant of Merle, from the Old French merle, meaning blackbird. It also brushes against Muriel, a Celtic name tied to sea and bright, and served both sexes before settling mainly on boys in some records.Low

In 30 seconds: Murle is a variant of Merle, from a French word for the blackbird, with a side link to Muriel. It was an early-century rarity (said MERL).

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Origin LowFrench, English

MeaningMurle is a spelling variant of Merle, from the Old French merle, meaning blackbird. It also brushes against Muriel, a Celtic name tied to sea and bright, and served both sexes before settling mainly on boys in some records.

U.S. rank (1962)#3901 ↘ Falling

1962 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1926

Total births (all-time)≈ 286

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

Murle is a respelling of Merle, the blackbird name from Old French, with an echo of the Celtic Muriel. Its single clipped beat suited the plain, one-syllable names that circulated in the early twentieth century.

Records place Murle chiefly from the nineteen-teens into the nineteen-sixties, always in small numbers. A man named Murle near its early high point would belong to a long-past generation now.

Did you know? Merle and its spellings come from the blackbird, so Murle carries a quiet bit of birdsong in its roots, a nature note common in early-century names.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Murle — Variant of Merle; Old French merle, blackbird; link to Muriel; early-century records.

Variations

MerleMurlMeryl

Nicknames

MerlMurLee

Famous Bearers

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If you like Murle…

Merle— the parent spelling Murle varies

Muriel— a related name in its background

Earl— a like short early-century name

Merlin— shares the merl- blackbird root

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Murle mean?

Murle is a variant of Merle, from the Old French merle, meaning blackbird, with a link to Muriel.

How do you pronounce Murle?

It is said MERL /ˈmɜrl/, a single beat.

Is Murle a boy or girl name?

Murle is used here as a boy's name, though it once served both.

How popular is Murle?

It was always rare, given to only about a dozen boys a year even at its early-century high point.