Meaning: Its source is Muriel, an English name meaning "Sparkling sea."

This spelling originated in the 20th-century as a girls' name. It is disputed whether it is in fact a re-spelling of Merrill, or a new invention fashioned on the girls' name Cheryl.

Languages: This boy's name is used in French.

Meaning: Its source is Muriel, an English name meaning "Sparkling sea."

Alternative Spellings: Merrill and Meryle

Variant Forms: Merrilee and Myrl

Popularity: The name Meryl ranked 1912th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: Some experts dispute this name's derivation from Muriel, and believe it was invented at the beginning of the 20th century, modeled on Cheryl.

In any case, actress Meryl Streep (born Mary Louise Streep in 1949) has contributed greatly to its popularity since the 1980s.