The name Muriel is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Scottish surname 'Murray'. It means 'sea-born', reflecting its association with the sea. The name gained popularity in Scotland during medieval times but has since become more widely used around the world, often as a female given name.
Murial was a popular name for newborns during the early to mid-20th century, with peaks in popularity occurring between 1913 and 1922, as well as smaller peaks around 1934 and 1959. However, it seems that the name's usage declined significantly after World War II, with only a handful of Murials being born each year from 1940 onwards.