Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Muriel or Beryl?

274 replies

ItsaMeMarioooo · 21/09/2026 20:44

Which do you think sounds nicer for a baby girl?

I originally suggested Muriel after my Grandma and then my husband decided to throw his Nanas name into the ring (Beryl) and he suggested that maybe we use one as a middle name as a compromise.. I’m not really keen on using both as it’s too rhyme-y, do you agree? We are both on the fence about which to choose, so thought we’d gather opinions here!

If you choose “both” please comment which order you’d put the names :)
Thank you!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Normandy144 · 21/09/2026 21:29

Neither. They're not very nice names. I always think of Muriel's wedding and Beryl is very old lady, similar to Brenda, Sandra, Janet, Maureen that kind of era.

SwedishEdith · 21/09/2026 21:27

Actually, Phyllis is quite nice. The Railway Children vibes.

OP - this is for your child's middle name, isn't it, and not their first name?

Letterleaf · 21/09/2026 21:23

Jojoanna · 21/09/2026 21:19

Beryl , I had a lovely lady called Beryl

You had sex with Beryl?

my vote is definitely for Beurial. It has a cemetarial feel about it

JaneIves · 21/09/2026 21:23

Muriel is quite dreary sounding.

How about Mariel?
It’s not terrible…..

Needmorelego · 21/09/2026 21:22

Beuriel

Shloopie · 21/09/2026 21:22

Two stunningly beautiful names.

Second and third only to the glorious Bertha.

Pallisers · 21/09/2026 21:22

If he doesn't like Meryl how about Buriel.

NormasArse · 21/09/2026 21:21

Jojoanna · 21/09/2026 21:19

Beryl , I had a lovely lady called Beryl

You had her? In what way?

NormasArse · 21/09/2026 21:21

BobbieTables · 21/09/2026 21:13

I like Muriel but it does bring to mind 'you're terrible Muriel!'

Or Beryl the Peril…

SirChenjins · 21/09/2026 21:20

Buriel - to rhyme with Muriel but with a twist. It's not one that would be easily forgotten.

Jojoanna · 21/09/2026 21:19

Beryl , I had a lovely lady called Beryl

2dogsandabudgie · 21/09/2026 21:18

Letterleaf · 21/09/2026 21:11

I don’t believe someone is contemplating calling their child Muriel or Beryl. This has to be a wind up. I really hope it is

Baby fucking Beryl….

But I don't think it's any worse than Maud, Gladys, Irene, Violet, Elsie or Sidney and Stan.

OldWallpaper · 21/09/2026 21:16

Sorry, I don’t like either of them…

BobbieTables · 21/09/2026 21:13

I like Muriel but it does bring to mind 'you're terrible Muriel!'

PrettyLittleRose · 21/09/2026 21:13

Letterleaf · 21/09/2026 21:11

I don’t believe someone is contemplating calling their child Muriel or Beryl. This has to be a wind up. I really hope it is

Baby fucking Beryl….

I am hoping so, but I have a really bad feeling it's genuine! 😬

PrettyLittleRose · 21/09/2026 21:12

ItsaMeMarioooo · 21/09/2026 21:09

But we haven’t picked an ‘awful’ name because people will have an opinion regardless.. we’ve picked names that we think are lovely and have a connection to our family. I wouldn’t be considering either if I thought they were awful! My other Grandmother was called Phyllis, and I don’t like that at all, so we didn’t consider it.

As an aside, husband doesn’t like Meryl at all unfortunately.

Your DH doesn't like the name 'Meryl?'

But her likes Muriel and Beryl?! Confused

Unfathomable.

Letterleaf · 21/09/2026 21:11

I don’t believe someone is contemplating calling their child Muriel or Beryl. This has to be a wind up. I really hope it is

Baby fucking Beryl….

PrettyLittleRose · 21/09/2026 21:11

Nope. Neither one. Back to the drawing board @ItsaMeMarioooo

It's not mandatory to name your children after a family member!

ItsaMeMarioooo · 21/09/2026 21:10

JMSA · 21/09/2026 21:08

If you choose “both” please comment which order you’d put the names :)
Thank you!!

This, my friend, is the ultimate in wishful thinking! 😄

Oop 😂 I’m seeing that now!

OP posts:
ItsaMeMarioooo · 21/09/2026 21:09

But we haven’t picked an ‘awful’ name because people will have an opinion regardless.. we’ve picked names that we think are lovely and have a connection to our family. I wouldn’t be considering either if I thought they were awful! My other Grandmother was called Phyllis, and I don’t like that at all, so we didn’t consider it.

As an aside, husband doesn’t like Meryl at all unfortunately.

OP posts:
JMSA · 21/09/2026 21:08

If you choose “both” please comment which order you’d put the names :)
Thank you!!

This, my friend, is the ultimate in wishful thinking! 😄

BePoisedPlumUser · 21/09/2026 21:07

Neither

PinkHibiscusFlowers · 21/09/2026 21:05

“I appreciate that they won’t be everyone’s cup of tea..”

Picking an awful name because everyone will have an opinion anyway shouldn’t be a reason to choose an awful name.
A lot of “granny” names have seen a resurgence but both of these need to stay firmly in the past.
Meryl is so much nicer
Congratulations 💕

narcASD · 21/09/2026 21:04

Neither, both are dowdy sounding but Meryl as suggested above is quite nice.

CherryKerry · 21/09/2026 21:03

Neither, sorry. Will be another generation before they are back 'in', your child will be embarrassed by their name.

Swipe left for the next trending thread