Muriel or Beryl?

The Meriel I knew went through life being known as Merry Hell. Best avoided.

Yep

But I like Beryl. My cat is called Beryl after Beryl Burton, one of the greatest British cyclists of all time. Beryl is also the name of the mineral family that Emerald is in. You could call her Emerald - it’s Green Beryl.

I think you are ahead of the trend. I remember when Daisy, Elsie, Lily were dreadfully outdated.

I like Beryl because Beryl is emerald and aquamarine.

Both totally dire.

Apparently Merriel or Mariel are variants of the original Celtic name and I think they are prettier and a better guide to the pronunciation than Muriel. Much prefer that to Beryl.

And Mildred (for the other poster) - at least she’d get called Millie, which is cute.

I prefer Muriel, Maryl and Merryn to Beryl as it seems so dated.

It might make a comeback
though, if Olive can surely anything is possible.

Beryl Bikes. Beryl the Bike (teens gonna teen…)

(and the aforementioned ‘you’re terrible, Muriel’).

I would think you were winding me up if you presented a baby girl with either of these names.

About time Beryl made its way back…it’s a lovely gemstone name. Not keen on Muriel though.

What’s wrong with Fruitoftheloom?

OP did you say their middle names were Edna and Gladys?
If so you really appear to have hit the jackpot on old fashioned names .

Two years ago my class list had a Colin and Audrey on it. Names that people commented on . Within 24hrs they were two little people whose names were Colin and Audrey and nobody thought anything of it.

When people talk of nicer names,they often mean familiar names . We all prefer some names above others but because a name has rarely been used for 60 years that doesn't make it awful just unusual.

Don't name your child either of these names. They are definitely not normal names. Some old fashioned names are lovely. Neither of these are.
I would only associate beryl with beryl tbe peril from comics. But anyone younger wouldn't know that.
Would also not go for either Edna and Gladys
Maybe pick 1 of the names for your daughter's middle name.
Or maybe Brielle, another name combination of beryl & muriel.

I think Beryl is nicer as Muriel reminds me of Ariel in the little mermaid and I don’t really like the ‘Mur’ sound at the start. Both are totally fine though so it’s up to you.

@ItsaMeMarioooo Name your daughter whichever name you love. No-one in real life will say out loud any of the things theyre typing on your thread and very quickly your daughter will just become her name. You won't give it a second thought or imagine she could be called anything else.

My youngest DD's middle name is Beryl after an aunt of mine who died as a teenager. For me it is a beautiful name because it reminds me of my aunt who I loved very much (I was 4 when she died) and now my lovely DD.

Muriel is my DMiL and although I am very fond of her I don't much like the name.

Both names are pretty, unusual but known.

I'd definitely use both, to honour both grandmothers. I prefer the name Beryl - both in sound, and because it makes me think of heaven :)

I'd be tempted to compromise and equalize their importance by having the middle name be the one she's known by, so Muriel Beryl Smith, known as Beryl.

How the names scan doesn't matter much since they're so rarely used, so I wouldn't worry about whether they go together.

And several friends went by middle names. They were all happy with their parents decision to do this, so I presume it wasn't too annoying having to explain it!

You do, of course, have the option of two middle names. Not sure if that makes the decision easier or harder!

I quite like Beryl, Berry for short which is cute. There are so many little ones called Ada now I can't see what's wrong with Beryl.

I prefer Muriel. I like the meaning (sea-bright) and the fact that along with the Gaelic Muireall and the Irish Muirgel it has a history at least back to the Middle Ages. Beryl is a much more modern creation and I associate it mainly with the stone. I do think Muriel has some downsides, although whether or not they bother you is subjective - (1) because it was popular in the1920s-1940s and then became much less used, many people may associate it with a certain age group (2) the MYOO sound in the English pronunciation of the name is tempting to draw out and make exaggerated/comical - although people who wish to can make fun of any name and (3) the association with Muriel's Wedding ("you're terrible, Muriel!") where the title character is quite awkward and dowdy, although endearing - but I think that's obsolescent if not obsolete. While I don't think Muriel Beryl or Beryl Muriel are impossible I'd rather pair each with a different first/middle due to the repetitive prominent r and then ending "ull" sound.

How do you and your husband feel about the names themselves, leaving aside the family connection?

I quite like this idea actually.

I don't think you can use Beryl Muriel or Muriel Beryl together OP.

They are both heavily old lady names, which are starting to come back, but I don't think you can lump two names like that together: it's like carb on carb (eg a rice sandwich).

Both would benefit from a name carefully chosen to flatter it, and the two together fight like Beryl and Muriel having handbags at dawn over the last potted cyclamen at Dobbies Garden centre,

Definitely not together (rhymey) but both names are growing on me OP. Beryl is basically a nature/gemstone name, so what's not to like. And Muriel is objectively rather pretty in a simple way.

I think anyone who revives an old name meets a bit of resistance. David and Victoria Mitchell went with Barbara and June - I much prefer Beryl and Muriel!

Both absolutely dreadful. I knew a muriel at school. She was bullied for it. Everyone made mooing noises when she walked past.
Would you want to be called either of them?

This has to be a joke!!!

Neither. Jesus Christ...They're both awful. It's the melody. There's so many beautiful names out there

Absolutely awful.