Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Myrtle
GirlGreek, English· “the myrtle plant”
- Meaning
- the myrtle plant
- Origin
- Greek, English
- Pronunciation
- MUR-tuhl
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #11,611
- US babies 2025
- 8
- Best rank
- #27 (1894)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Myrtle
Myrtle is a Greek and English name that means “the myrtle plant”.
Myrtle comes from the English name of the evergreen shrub, from the Greek myrtos. In ancient Greece and Rome the myrtle was sacred to Aphrodite and Venus and was a symbol of love, often worn by brides. Myrtle became a popular girls' name in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, part of a fashion for plant names. F. Scott Fitzgerald gave the name to Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby. It is said MUR-tuhl. Myrt and Myrtie are old nicknames. Today it reads as a vintage name with a botanical, slightly quirky charm.
Popularity over time
Myrtle has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 85 different years. Its best national rank was #27 in 1894, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 4,076 were named Myrtle. In 2025, 8 babies were named Myrtle, and it ranked #11,611 nationally.
Its national rank moved from #68 in 1920, #376 in 1950, #3,184 in 1980, and #11,611 in 2025. Of the 136,486 US girls named Myrtle since records began, 24% were born in the 1910s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 30,569 babies. Since 2010, 51 more have been named Myrtle.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Nellie, Vera, Viola, Ida, and Alma.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Myrtle is usually pronounced MUR-tuhl, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with M and ends in “-le”.
Middle names for Myrtle
A few middle names that flow with Myrtle: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Myrtle
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Lists that include Myrtle
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Myrtle mean?
Myrtle is a Greek and English name that means “the myrtle plant”.
What is the origin of the name Myrtle?
Myrtle has Greek and English roots. Myrtle comes from the English name of the evergreen shrub, from the Greek myrtos.
Is Myrtle a popular name?
Not especially. Myrtle ranked #11,611 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Myrtle a boy or girl name?
Myrtle is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Myrtle?
Myrtle is usually pronounced MUR-tuhl. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings