Mariel Girl

Popularity: #656 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAR-ee-el //ˈmɛr.i.əl//

Origin: Latin; Hebrew

Meaning: Latin: 'star of the sea'; Hebrew: 'bitter'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Mariel is derived from the Hebrew name Miriam, which is believed to mean "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness." The name Miriam was transliterated into Greek as Maria, which later influenced the Latin form Maria. Over time, Maria became a common name in various forms across different languages, including the Old French variant Marie.

The addition of the diminutive suffix "-el" in Mariel suggests a form of endearment or affection, which is common in many cultures. Historically, the name Maria has significant biblical roots, as it is associated with the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, who is a central figure in Christianity.

The name has been widely used in Christian contexts, particularly in the Middle Ages, when it became popularized through various saints and religious figures. The name appears in major religious texts, including the Latin Vulgate Bible, which was completed in the late 4th century, and later in the King James Bible in the early 17th century.

The enduring presence of the name in religious and cultural texts has contributed to its lasting significance. Culturally, Mariel carries connotations of grace and femininity, often associated with the virtues of compassion and strength, reflecting the qualities attributed to its biblical namesake.

The name has been embraced in various cultures, often linked to themes of devotion and maternal care. Its melodic sound and affectionate diminutive form resonate in many languages, making it a cherished choice in various traditions.

The name Mariel, while less common than its root forms, encapsulates a rich historical and cultural legacy that continues to be appreciated.

Famous people named Mariel

In this section, you will find notable people named Mariel. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Mariel who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Mariel who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Mariel Rodriguez is a television host and actress best known for her work on the show 'Mariel en su Salsa' and her appearances on various reality shows.

Fictional characters named Mariel

The following list of fictional characters named Mariel is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Mariel is a fictional character from the novel Mariel of Redwall. She is a brave and determined young otter who embarks on a quest to rescue her friends and protect her home.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Mariel, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MarinaMiriamMayaMarleneMaraMabel

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Mariel. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

MarinaMireilleMariaMarleneMaraMabelMiriamMaya

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Mariel was first seen in the United States in 1914.

Mariel has ranked as high as #1676 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Mariel has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Mariel is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Mariel was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Mariel.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 303 5 298
2024 242 0 242
2023 183 0 183
2022 94 0 94
2021 80 0 80
2020 96 0 96
2019 79 0 79
2018 96 0 96
2017 125 0 125
2016 118 5 113
2015 112 0 112
2014 88 0 88
2013 100 5 95
2012 75 0 75
2011 85 0 85
2010 109 0 109
2009 118 0 118
2008 127 6 121
2007 128 5 123
2006 132 8 124
2005 118 0 118
2004 117 0 117
2003 123 0 123
2002 133 0 133
2001 120 5 115
2000 161 0 161
1999 130 0 130
1998 140 5 135
1997 159 0 159
1996 174 0 174
1995 157 0 157
1994 202 5 197
1993 208 6 202
1992 268 0 268
1991 252 0 252
1990 196 0 196
1989 184 11 173
1988 250 8 242
1987 202 6 196
1986 173 10 163
1985 164 8 156
1984 122 5 117
1983 111 0 111
1982 122 0 122
1981 123 0 123
1980 157 10 147
1979 104 8 96
1978 32 0 32
1977 33 0 33
1976 19 0 19
1975 16 0 16
1974 19 0 19
1973 20 0 20
1972 13 0 13
1971 11 0 11
1970 10 0 10
1969 12 0 12
1968 7 0 7
1967 6 0 6
1966 8 0 8
1965 8 0 8
1964 6 0 6
1963 8 0 8
1962 6 0 6
1960 7 0 7
1959 7 0 7
1958 10 0 10
1957 9 0 9
1956 10 0 10
1955 12 0 12
1953 5 0 5
1952 8 0 8
1951 13 0 13
1950 5 0 5
1949 11 0 11
1948 7 0 7
1947 13 0 13
1946 10 0 10
1945 8 0 8
1944 11 0 11
1943 7 0 7
1942 12 0 12
1941 11 0 11
1940 11 0 11
1939 18 0 18
1938 11 0 11
1937 17 0 17
1936 18 0 18
1935 27 0 27
1934 17 0 17
1933 12 0 12
1932 13 0 13
1931 15 0 15
1930 13 0 13
1929 15 0 15
1928 13 0 13
1927 22 0 22
1926 10 0 10
1925 14 0 14
1924 6 0 6
1923 7 0 7
1922 10 0 10
1921 11 0 11
1920 8 0 8
1919 8 0 8
1918 8 0 8
1917 8 0 8
1916 6 0 6
1915 9 0 9
1914 6 0 6

Top States for Mariel (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 93
49%
CA 42
22%
AZ 18
9%
NY 10
5%
IL 8
4%
NC 8
4%
FL 6
3%
IN 6
3%