Meaning and background
The story behind Meryl
Meryl is an English given-name variant of Muriel. Muriel itself was borrowed into medieval English from Celtic-language forms linked with Irish Muirgel and Scottish Muireall, so Meryl has a deeper ancestry than its modern spelling suggests. The familiar association with the actor Meryl Streep should not be mistaken for the name's origin. Its two syllables offer a conventional human-name option for a dog.
- Origin
- English given-name variant of Muriel, ultimately related to Irish Muirgel and Scottish Muireall. Source
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Everyday moments“Meryl, come here!”
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About Meryl
Recorded as a dog’s name
Meryl appears in 11 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/mɛɹəl/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the first syllable in the recorded US readings.
View dictionary notation
/mɛɹəl/ · primary stress on syllable 1M EH1 R AH0 L
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
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Sources and research notes (3)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
- City of Seattle Seattle Pet Licenses — DOG-only name aggregate, current source dated 6 October 2026 — Secondary spelling corroboration from dog-only licence rows. No cats, owner fields, national ranking or unique-dog claim.
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.