boy's name
Merle
MURL (English)
- Origin French
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 1
- Letters 5
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 45,463
Merle means blackbird, and it is one of the mixed names on this site — 33 percent of recorded births are female, and it is reviving. A Germanic line meaning famous accounts for some bearers instead.
- Merle is a name of French origin.
- Peaked in 1921, when 1,275 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 87,252 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Merle Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 370 |
| 1890s | 1,095 |
| 1900s | 1,717 |
| 1910s | 7,465 |
| 1920s | 11,573 |
| 1930s | 8,297 |
| 1940s | 6,341 |
| 1950s | 4,182 |
| 1960s | 1,866 |
| 1970s | 1,023 |
| 1980s | 559 |
| 1990s | 315 |
| 2000s | 224 |
| 2010s | 180 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 182 |
What Merle Means
Merle means a blackbird. The Latin names the bird directly, so the sense belongs to the creature rather than describing anything about a person, though a second line may make it unrelated to the bird.
Where Merle Comes From
Merle is the French for a blackbird, from the Latin merula. The bird gives English merle in poetry and the merle coat pattern in dogs, named for its mottling. A separate line derives some bearers from the Germanic mari, famous, or from Muriel, which would make the name unrelated to the bird — and since the name is used for both sexes, different bearers may descend from different sources. It is reviving.
Merle in Use
Merle peaked in the United States in 1921, when 1,275 babies were registered, and it is reviving. It now ranks 3,481st in the United States on 38 births and 7,061st in England and Wales on 3, across 45,463 lifetime births in two markets. About 33 percent of recorded births are female, which makes it one of the more evenly divided names on this site.
How Popular Is Merle?
In 2025, Merle was given to 38 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Merle Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Merle
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Merle Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Merle over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Merle
- English MURL /mɜːɹl/
Merle in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Dutch
- Muriel
Sibling Names for Merle
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Merle — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Merle
What does the name Merle mean?
A blackbird — the Latin merula.
Is the merle dog pattern related?
Yes, named for the mottling that recalls the bird.
Is Merle a boys' or girls' name?
Both — about 33 percent of recorded births are female.
Is Merle coming back?
It is reviving, at 3,481st in the United States.
How popular is the name Merle?
In 2025, Merle was given to 38 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
How many syllables are in Merle?
Merle has 1 syllable.
When was Merle most popular?
Merle peaked in 1921, when 1,275 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Merle a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Merle currently ranks #3,481 in the United States. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.