Muriel or Beryl?

Out of all the names out there and you’re fixated on these? I can only think it’s pregnancy hormones giving your head a wobble.

Beryl.

Bloomin hideous the pair of them surely you can think of a nicer name and use those names (pref Muriel) as a middle name . What about Eloise Muriel ?

Beryl and Muriel play bingo on a Tuesday and enjoy a sweet sherry.
Dreadful name choices, don’t do it

It absolutely is.

Beryl. But I like Meryl most.

This

I couldn't vote cos I hate both the names equally 😅

No disrespect to your nanas - who no doubt were lovely.

I wouldn't choose those names now; especially when there's so many beautiful girls names to choose from.

I really like Beryl. Such a pretty name. I don't much like Muriel or Meryl. Merryn is lovely though.

There's a Sibyl at one of our playgroups which has really grown on me.

Please don't saddle your child with the name Muriel - it was my mother's name and she absolutely hated it so everybody called her Mu (Mew) which was a bit better, until the vicar officiating at her funeral referred to her as Moo! Poor thing wasn't even given a middle name which she could use!

I agree that Meryl is a nice combination of both, or even Mireille??

this is precisely it, time is passing, Beryl was a common "old lady" name when i started NHS work in the 90's so my generation would NEVER have called their offspring Beryl or Muriel...but equally , I've known some lovely Beryl's and weirdly I was wondering recently when it would come back in! We've already had all the other old "working class " names ie. the Stanleys ,Alfreds, Ediths ,Mabels & Bettys etc which my generation would likewise think very odd on a young baby. but just be aware once a name gets back in fashion there will be loads of kids with it!

I adore the name Muriel! Both my next door neighbours either side of us growing up were called Muriel, and they were both lovely ladies. So I have fond associations with the name.

I also really like Edna which you mentioned was one of your grandmother’s middle names.

OP I really want to be on your side, my own daughter is called Enid so I’m no stranger to a clunky, old fashioned name! And I like the sound of Mildred (must check out the other thread). However I admit I’m struggling with Muriel and Beryl.

I do like Meryl (shame your husband doesn’t), and somebody up thread mentioned Mariel which is actually lovely, a totally different vibe imo.

I've only ever known one Muriel, a friend of my mother's -- so not THAT old, born in the early 60s. But I always remember thinking her name sounded like a combination of cereal and muesli. Genuinely offensive to the ear.

So if this really isn't a wind-up, then Beryl. But I do also think that's awful!

Oh give over - you can't seriously be thinking of either Muriel or Beryl as a first name

You and DH need to have a word with each other!

Olive always makes me think of Olive from On The Buses, I really don't like the name, but younger people won't remember that programme.

I prefer Beryl and Muriel to all the silly names like Storm or Fox or River.

Many years ago actress Drew Barrymore did the voice on an adorable animated film called Olive the Other Reindeer.
The name obviously stuck with her because one of her daughters is called Olive 🙂

Buriel Jimberley is perfect

OP you can see that these names provoke strong reactions. I guess they are in the vein of the currently and recently popular names from 100 years ago – like Arthur, Stanley, Sidney, Frederick, Wilfred; and for girls, Elsie, Mabel, Edith, Agnes, Constance, Florence. Some of those names are top ten actually. My DD's name is one that a lot of people strongly dislike as "old lady" on these types of threads.

That said, I think the two you have chosen are outliers even in the old lady list. DD is in her 20s and it’s only now that she tends to hear 5yos called her name (there were none in school or uni). So a lot have really come back into fashion – but your choices have not. I am just saying that a lot of people may react as posters on here have – though hopefully not to your face haha! Tho I did once say to a colleague how much I loved the name Agnes (not DD's name) and had chosen it for DS2 if he had been a girl – their reaction was "good thing he was a boy then!" I do still love Agnes.

I have met at least one YP called all the names I mention above (a 14yo Agnes this summer tho I think she was not keen on her name) but never a Beryl, sorry. I do know a Muriel who would be about 24 now, and as a small child, yes it was just her name. She was from Scotland tho so I am not sure if it is more popular there?

You need to name your baby a name you love. If they don't love it too, they can always change it. FWIW I really don't like my name for a number of reasons, but one good thing is that I am usually the only one people know, so I am immediately identified to them. Pretty sure your DD will have that with Beryl or Muriel.

You should have added a fourth option at the top to include ‘neither’.
Not my cup of tea at all but it’s not my child! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Meryl is definitely a far nicer name than Beryl or Muriel.

Just not Beryl. Sorry Grandma!

Muriel is better, Meryl for a compromise.

Well it will definitely be unique. There were exactly 7 Beryl’s and 7 Muriel’s born in 2025. That might show you the level of unpopularity!

Or Marielle, it is nod to your grannies but something a bit different and prettier

Ooh, this!

No, you may not.