Muriel

Muriel is a name of Celtic origin, most likely derived from elements meaning sea and bright, from roots related to Old Irish muir (sea) and gel (bright), giving an overall sense of bright as the sea. It was used in medieval Britain and Ireland, and was also recorded in Anglo-Norman forms following the Norman Conquest, appearing in English records from the eleventh century onward. The name enjoyed a revival in the nineteenth century partly through literary influence, including the character Muriel in Samuel Rogers's poem Jacqueline. Related forms include Meriel and Muirgheal, and it shares its sea-bright root with the Welsh name Morfudd.