Muriel

Muriel is an anglicized form of a medieval Celtic name, likely derived from the Old Irish elements muir, meaning sea, and geal, meaning bright or white, giving an overall sense of bright sea. The name was common in medieval Britain and was brought to England by Breton settlers following the Norman Conquest, where it enjoyed widespread use through the Middle Ages before falling out of fashion and reviving in the nineteenth century. It appears in early Scottish and Irish records and was borne by several notable medieval women, including Muriel of Huntingdon, a Scottish noblewoman of the twelfth century. Related forms include the Irish Muirgheal and the Scottish Gaelic Muireall.