Is Myrtle a boy's or girl's name?

Myrtle is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 498 recorded births.

When was Myrtle most popular?

Myrtle reached its peak popularity in 1918 with 4,076 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Myrtle?

Myrtle is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 136,478 babies in the U.S. since 1880. Its peak was in 1918.

Myrtle

An uncommon Greek pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysGreekNot ranked recently Also a pet name

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from English.

Myrtle is a girl's and boy's baby name of English origin, taken from the myrtle plant — a Mediterranean shrub historically associated with love, beauty, and the goddess Aphrodite. Nature names surged in the Victorian era, and Myrtle was among the most popular botanical choices of the 1890s–1910s.

It peaked in the U.S. around 1900, when it ranked in the top 20. A full century later, Myrtle is ripe for rediscovery — it has the vintage charm of Pearl or Hazel but remains far less common, making it a genuine original.

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Popularity Over Time

Myrtle has 125+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Myrtle
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	12	#14694	▼
2010s	31	#14273	▲
2000s	6	#15836	▼
1990s	62	#10661	▼
1980s	153	#5692	▼
1970s	356	#2489	▼
1960s	1,166	#1032	▼
1950s	3,106	#540	▼
1940s	7,274	#267	▼
1930s	14,134	#152	▼
1920s	30,569	#93	—
1910s	32,432	#56	▲
1900s	19,691	#35	▲
1890s	17,717	#30	▲
1880s	9,769	#36	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(125 years, 1880–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Myrtle
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	6	#14617	0
2022	6	#14770	-6 (-50.0%)
2019	12	#8950	+7 (140.0%)
2016	5	#18043	-4 (-44.4%)
2014	9	#11652	+4 (80.0%)
2013	5	#18446	-1 (-16.7%)
2005	6	#15836	0
1997	6	#13217	-2 (-25.0%)
1996	8	#10236	-1 (-11.1%)
1995	9	#9303	0
1994	9	#9354	+2 (28.6%)
1993	7	#11381	+1 (16.7%)
1992	6	#12829	-3 (-33.3%)
1991	9	#9104	+1 (12.5%)
1990	8	#9860	-1 (-11.1%)
1989	9	#8512	+2 (28.6%)
1988	7	#9996	-6 (-46.2%)
1987	13	#5833	-2 (-13.3%)
1986	15	#5122	+5 (50.0%)
1985	10	#6786	-6 (-37.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Myrtle as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Myrtle has also been given to 498 boys in the U.S. since 1880.

Unranked

Current rank

498

Total births

1915

Peak year

Compare Myrtle as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Myrtle be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Myrtle is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it is not currently ranked. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Myrtle has two lives

Myrtle, the baby name

Raregirls

136,478 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2023) · Methodology