How Many People Are Named Muriel?

Complete statistics for the name Muriel: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Muriel
Very Rare
Celtic

Muriel is a classic name with Celtic roots, thought to mean 'bright sea' or 'shining sea'. It's genuinely rare today, with only around 10,338 living Americans carrying the name, making it 1 in 31,922 people. Striking fact: the average Muriel is 97 years old, which tells you almost everything about where this name stands right now.

~1,646
Living in US
1 in 201,367
Americans
1922
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Bright or shining sea
🌐
Origin
Celtic
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 33
Personality Traits
Gentle Classic Thoughtful Resilient
33
Life Path Number

The number 33 is considered a master number in numerology, representing compassion, healing, and a deep drive to uplift others. People associated with 33 are thought to carry a sense of responsibility toward the world around them, often finding purpose through nurturing and creative expression.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

22,898
Worldwide Bearers
#4,820
Global Rank
🇯🇲 Jamaica
2,961
🇳🇱 Netherlands
2,748
🇵🇭 Philippines
2,427
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
2,301
🇮🇪 Ireland
1,362
🇮🇱 Israel
1,265
🇦🇺 Australia
858
🇬🇭 Ghana
674
🇨🇲 Cameroon
661
🇨🇴 Colombia
593

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
129 (1%)
♀ Female
10,208 (99%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 97
752
Would be under 30 (1%)
1,536
Would be 30–60 (3%)
53,319
Would be over 60 (96%)

All 55,607 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1922

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
98
Modern Appeal
2
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Muriel Through the Generations

Muriel had its moment a century ago. It peaked in 1922 with 2,407 babies born in a single year, part of a broader wave of Celtic and classic names that were fashionable in the early 1900s. Over all time, 55,607 Americans have been named Muriel, but only 10,338 are estimated to be living today, reflecting just how long ago most of those births happened. The age distribution is striking: 53,319 of all recorded Muriels are over 60, and the average age sits at 97. That's not a typo. Only 752 Muriels are under 30, compared to 53,319 over 60, meaning 96% of the name's population belongs to an older generation. What makes this interesting is that the trend is actually slowly rising, suggesting a small but real wave of parents are rediscovering it as a vintage revival name. It's rare, it's old-school, and it might just be making a quiet comeback.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 12,009
Massachusetts 3,701
New Jersey 2,835
Illinois 2,772
California 2,200
Minnesota 2,170
Pennsylvania 1,953
Michigan 1,877
Maine 1,250
Wisconsin 1,201

⭐ Famous People Named Muriel

Muriel MURE-ee-əl is a feminine given name in the English language.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Muriel

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Muriel's Celtic roots

📄 About the Name Muriel

How Many People Have the Name Muriel?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,646 people in the United States currently share the name Muriel. That works out to roughly 1 in every 201,367 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Muriel a Common or Rare Name?

Muriel is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Muriel Mean?

Muriel means "bright or shining sea" and comes from Celtic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 33.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Muriel in SSA data, approximately 1% are male and 99% are female.

When Was Muriel Most Popular?

The name Muriel reached peak popularity in 1922, with 2,407 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Muriel?

Approximately 1,646 people named Muriel live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,646. That works out to roughly 1 in 201,367 Americans.

Is Muriel a rare name?

Muriel is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 201,367 Americans has this name.

What does the name Muriel mean?

Muriel means "bright or shining sea" and comes from Celtic origins.

Is Muriel more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 1% of people named Muriel are male and 99% are female.

When was Muriel most popular?

Muriel peaked in 1922 with 2,407 births that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US1,646
All-Time Births1,646
1 in X1 in 201,367
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age97
Peak Year1922
World Rank#4,820
Male %1%
Female %99%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.