Unisex name · since 1886

Murl

Murl has 1,941 recorded births since 1886 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1919 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.

1,941
total births
1886–1983
years on record
1920s
peak decade
26%
born in that decade

1,941 boys have been named Murl since 1886, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.

Murl has 1,941 recorded births among boys since 1886, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1886 to 1983.

  • 1,941 total births
  • 1886–1983 years on record
  • 1920s peak decade
  • 26% born in that decade

Data updated Jun 2026

The verdict

1,941 boys have been named Murl since 1886, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1983.

1,941
total births
1886–1983
years on record
1920s
peak decade
26%
born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade

26% of everyone ever named Murl was born in this single decade.

1919
Single peak year

65 babies were named Murl in 1919 - its busiest year on record.

Murl's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Murl's SSA record in two at 1935 and the more recent half accounts for 39% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 61%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1886, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1919 peak of 65, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Murl at a glance

Last recorded 1983

Total births

1,941

Since 1886

98 years of records

Peak year

1919

65 births that year

Strongest decade: 1920s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 1983

Active since

1886

Recorded for 98 years

Last year on file: 1983

Murl popularity over time - boys

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–1983

Last recorded 1983
Peak year (1919)
65
Annual births at peak, across 98 years of records
020406080 188619041915192619371948195919711983 5

Murl popularity over time - girls

626 total births recorded since 1885 (Murl as girls' name)

Unisex variant - 626 births
010203040 188519031910191719241931193819521958 6

Murl by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

1920s was Murl's strongest decade.

511 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.

Murl births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 511 births (26% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of June 2026

How Murl compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Murl's total volume

Murl vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Murl vs 15 similarly-sized boys names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%5%10%15%20%25%30% 050100150 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Murl
Murl vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Murl by state

Where Murl concentrates geographically, total births since 1886

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Murl
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Oklahoma
115 5.9%
#2 Missouri
85 4.4%
#3 Texas
45 2.3%
#4 Kentucky
34 1.8%
#5 Arkansas
25 1.3%
#6 Indiana
21 1.1%
#7 Ohio
11 0.6%
#8 Illinois
7 0.4%
Oklahoma share of Murl's total US births 5.9%
Even split

115 of 1,941 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 12 reporting states.

Murl appears in 12 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Murl? ▼
1,941 babies have been named Murl since 1886. It was last recorded in 1983. The peak year was 1919 with 65 births.
When was Murl most popular? ▼
Murl was most popular in the 1920s decade with 511 total births. The single peak year was 1919.
Where is Murl most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Murl are Oklahoma (115 births), Missouri (85 births), Texas (45 births).
Is Murl a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Murl is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,941 births, and as a girl's name it has 626 births.
How long has the name Murl been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Murl since 1886 -- 98 years through the most recent 1983 data.
What names are similar to Murl? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Murray, Murphy, Murry, Murad, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.

What to do with Murl's data

  • Murl's decade-level peak was the 1920s (511 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Oklahoma records the most Murls (115 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Oklahoma names
  • Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Keep exploring Murl

Nearby Names Like Murl

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Murl

Murray Boy
#2716 21,908 births
Murphy Boy
#813 8,486 births
Murry Boy
3,085 births
Murad Boy
#2979 1,133 births
Murrell Boy
1,098 births

Compare Murl side by side: Murl vs Murray Murl vs Murphy Murl vs Murry

Or pick any two names to compare →

Related Names

Names with a similar number of total births

Fitzgerald #2239
1,941 births · Peak 1964
Khyree #1670
1,942 births · Peak 2022
Jaxsen #3759
1,942 births · Peak 2013
Winton #10978
1,940 births · Peak 1920
Bryden #4016
1,940 births · Peak 2013
Bryar #1979
1,940 births · Peak 2019
Mortimer
1,943 births · Peak 1916
Sandro #2538
1,938 births · Peak 2023

Data Sources

Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1886–1983 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Murl: Baby Name Since 1886 - 1,941 Births, Peak 1919." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/murl. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Murl draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.