Muriel

Derived from Celtic roots meaning bright sea, the name traveled through Norman French into medieval England. It fell out of regular use for centuries until Victorian literature brought it back into circulation. American parents took to it in the early twentieth century, giving it a solid forty-year run before it receded.

The name reads as someone who keeps a reliable fountain pen and does not suffer disorganized filing. With three-quarters of living Muriels belonging to either the Silent or Baby Boom generations, it belongs largely to women who remember telephone party lines. It suggests someone who handles cold weather without complaint. The overall impression is a woolen coat that has outlasted four mayors.