Myrtle Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MUR-tuhl //ˈmɜːrtəl//
Origin: English; Greek
Meaning: English: name of a plant; Greek: myrtle tree
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Myrtle originates from the Latin word "myrtus," which refers to the myrtle plant, a shrub known for its fragrant white or pink flowers and aromatic leaves. The name made its way into English through Old French, where it was adopted as "mirtle" before becoming established in Middle English as "myrtel." The myrtle plant has been associated with various cultural and symbolic meanings throughout history, often representing love, beauty, and fertility, which contributed to the name's appeal in various contexts.
Historically, the name Myrtle has been linked to classical antiquity, where the myrtle plant was sacred to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and was often used in wedding ceremonies and celebrations. In the biblical context, the myrtle is mentioned in the Book of Zechariah, where it symbolizes peace and restoration, further enhancing its significance in religious and cultural traditions.
The name Myrtle gained traction in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as it was often used in literary works and poetry, reflecting the Romantic era's fascination with nature and its elements. Culturally, the name Myrtle has been associated with various traditions, including its use in floral arrangements and as a symbol of love and fidelity in marriage.
The name's botanical roots have allowed it to endure as a symbol of beauty and resilience. Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Myrtie" have emerged, reflecting a more affectionate or familiar usage.
Overall, the name Myrtle carries a rich historical and cultural legacy, rooted in its botanical origins and the various meanings attributed to the myrtle plant throughout the ages.
Famous people named Myrtle
In this section, you will find notable people named Myrtle. 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 Myrtle who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Myrtle 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.
Myrtle Corbin was a sideshow performer best known for her unique condition of being a double-bodied woman.
Myrtle Beach is a popular tourist destination known for its beaches and entertainment.
Fictional characters named Myrtle
The following list of fictional characters named Myrtle 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.
Myrtle Wilson is a fictional character from the novel The Great Gatsby. She is the mistress of Tom Buchanan and represents the moral decay of society in the 1920s.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Myrtle, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Myrtle. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Myrtle was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Myrtle has ranked as high as #112 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in North Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, Alabama, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Myrtle has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Myrtle 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 Myrtle 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 Myrtle.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2019 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2014 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2005 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1997 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1996 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1995 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1993 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1991 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1990 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1989 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1988 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1987 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1986 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1985 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1984 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1983 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1982 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1981 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1980 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| 1979 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1978 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1977 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 1976 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| 1975 | 41 | 0 | 41 |
| 1974 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| 1973 | 36 | 0 | 36 |
| 1972 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1971 | 57 | 0 | 57 |
| 1970 | 50 | 0 | 50 |
| 1969 | 71 | 0 | 71 |
| 1968 | 74 | 0 | 74 |
| 1967 | 85 | 0 | 85 |
| 1966 | 88 | 0 | 88 |
| 1965 | 117 | 0 | 117 |
| 1964 | 115 | 0 | 115 |
| 1963 | 110 | 0 | 110 |
| 1962 | 145 | 0 | 145 |
| 1961 | 186 | 0 | 186 |
| 1960 | 175 | 0 | 175 |
| 1959 | 182 | 0 | 182 |
| 1958 | 196 | 0 | 196 |
| 1957 | 229 | 0 | 229 |
| 1956 | 257 | 0 | 257 |
| 1955 | 316 | 0 | 316 |
| 1954 | 325 | 0 | 325 |
| 1953 | 378 | 0 | 378 |
| 1952 | 366 | 0 | 366 |
| 1951 | 397 | 0 | 397 |
| 1950 | 460 | 0 | 460 |
| 1949 | 523 | 0 | 523 |
| 1948 | 537 | 0 | 537 |
| 1947 | 596 | 0 | 596 |
| 1946 | 571 | 0 | 571 |
| 1945 | 621 | 0 | 621 |
| 1944 | 686 | 0 | 686 |
| 1943 | 848 | 5 | 843 |
| 1942 | 911 | 0 | 911 |
| 1941 | 971 | 5 | 966 |
| 1940 | 1,025 | 5 | 1,020 |
| 1939 | 1,064 | 0 | 1,064 |
| 1938 | 1,121 | 7 | 1,114 |
| 1937 | 1,204 | 10 | 1,194 |
| 1936 | 1,250 | 10 | 1,240 |
| 1935 | 1,319 | 7 | 1,312 |
| 1934 | 1,443 | 8 | 1,435 |
| 1933 | 1,403 | 5 | 1,398 |
| 1932 | 1,680 | 11 | 1,669 |
| 1931 | 1,728 | 17 | 1,711 |
| 1930 | 2,012 | 15 | 1,997 |
| 1929 | 2,132 | 6 | 2,126 |
| 1928 | 2,259 | 16 | 2,243 |
| 1927 | 2,560 | 10 | 2,550 |
| 1926 | 2,771 | 15 | 2,756 |
| 1925 | 2,989 | 9 | 2,980 |
| 1924 | 3,214 | 9 | 3,205 |
| 1923 | 3,323 | 9 | 3,314 |
| 1922 | 3,655 | 6 | 3,649 |
| 1921 | 3,805 | 14 | 3,791 |
| 1920 | 3,963 | 8 | 3,955 |
| 1919 | 3,826 | 10 | 3,816 |
| 1918 | 4,094 | 18 | 4,076 |
| 1917 | 4,063 | 17 | 4,046 |
| 1916 | 3,974 | 14 | 3,960 |
| 1915 | 3,887 | 22 | 3,865 |
| 1914 | 3,057 | 8 | 3,049 |
| 1913 | 2,851 | 8 | 2,843 |
| 1912 | 2,604 | 5 | 2,599 |
| 1911 | 2,041 | 8 | 2,033 |
| 1910 | 2,152 | 7 | 2,145 |
| 1909 | 1,955 | 5 | 1,950 |
| 1908 | 1,959 | 7 | 1,952 |
| 1907 | 1,936 | 7 | 1,929 |
| 1906 | 1,928 | 7 | 1,921 |
| 1905 | 2,026 | 0 | 2,026 |
| 1904 | 1,911 | 6 | 1,905 |
| 1903 | 1,994 | 14 | 1,980 |
| 1902 | 1,893 | 9 | 1,884 |
| 1901 | 1,901 | 9 | 1,892 |
| 1900 | 2,252 | 0 | 2,252 |
| 1899 | 1,828 | 7 | 1,821 |
| 1898 | 2,097 | 7 | 2,090 |
| 1897 | 1,833 | 0 | 1,833 |
| 1896 | 1,941 | 13 | 1,928 |
| 1895 | 1,950 | 12 | 1,938 |
| 1894 | 1,824 | 6 | 1,818 |
| 1893 | 1,767 | 8 | 1,759 |
| 1892 | 1,671 | 5 | 1,666 |
| 1891 | 1,464 | 6 | 1,458 |
| 1890 | 1,411 | 5 | 1,406 |
| 1889 | 1,371 | 10 | 1,361 |
| 1888 | 1,310 | 0 | 1,310 |
| 1887 | 1,094 | 7 | 1,087 |
| 1886 | 1,102 | 8 | 1,094 |
| 1885 | 1,031 | 5 | 1,026 |
| 1884 | 985 | 6 | 979 |
| 1883 | 851 | 0 | 851 |
| 1882 | 803 | 0 | 803 |
| 1881 | 643 | 0 | 643 |
| 1880 | 620 | 5 | 615 |
Top States for Myrtle (1978)
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 | 5 |