The name is of Gaelic origin and was originally formatted as Muirgheal (muir sea/ gheal bright) in Irish and Muireall in Scottish Gaelic. Various formats have long been evident in Breton, Irish, and Scottish Gaelic languages. The name was very common in medieval England, typically formatted as Merial, and unusual for a name of Celtic origin remained common after the Norman Conquest although rare from about 1300. Remaining common in Scotland as Muriel, the name in this form was introduced back into England in the mid-19th century, facilitated by Dinah Craik's 1856 novel John Halifax, Gentleman whose title character's daughter is named Muriel; born in 1802 Muriel is said to be named "after the rather peculiar name of John's mother." Usage of Muriel peaked in the early 1920s and has subsequently declined.
Muriel Anderson (born 1960), American guitaristMuriel Angelus (1909–2004), British actressMuriel Barbery (born 1969), Moroccan-born French novelistMuriel Beaumont (1881–1957), British actressMuriel Bell (1898–1974), New Zealand nutritionist and researcherMuriel Box (1905–1991), British screenwriter and film directorMuriel Brunskill (1899–1980), British contraltoMuriel Casals i Couturier (1945–2016), French-born Catalan economistMuriel Davisson, American neuroscientistMuriel Day (born 1942), Irish singerMuriel Duckworth (1908–2009), Canadian activistMuriel Gray (born 1958), Scottish author, broadcaster and journalistMuriel Gustavo Becker (born 1987), Brazilian male footballerMuriel Kovitz (born 1926), Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Calgary and Community VolunteerMuriel Moody (1907- 1991), New Zealand ceramic artistMuriel Pavlow (born 1921), British actressMuriel Rukeyser (1913–1980), American poet and political activistMuriel Smith (1923–1985), American mezzo-sopranoMuriel Spark (1918–2006), British novelistMuriel (Animal Farm), a wise old goat in George Orwell's novel Animal FarmMuriel, the main antagonist in the 2013 film Hansel & Gretel: Witch HuntersMuriel, hotel maid who was a recurring character in the family sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & CodyMuriel Bagge, one of the main characters in Courage the Cowardly DogChandler Muriel Bing, one of the male lead roles in the US TV sitcom Friends (1994-2004)Muriel Heslop, lead character in the iconic 1994 Australian film Muriel's WeddingMuriel McComber, teenage lead role in the Eugene O'Neill play Ah, Wilderness! (1933)Lady Muriel Orme, one of the main characters in Lewis Carroll's Sylvie and Bruno novelsMuriel Pritchett, character in the Anne Tyler novel The Accidental Tourist (1985)Muriel Rush, female lead role in the sitcom Too Close for ComfortMuriel Stacy, Anne's teacher in Anne of Green Gables, which had a big influence upon the development of the main characterMuriel Weasley, elderly gossipy great-aunt of Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2009)
