How to say it
MAR · i · el
ˈmɑːr.i.ɛl
Feminine
Mariel
Diminutive of Mary
What it means
A diminutive of Maria or Mary, often influenced by Muriel, with the debated meanings of Miriam behind it.
Mariel is a diminutive of Maria or Mary, and it has also been shaped by Muriel. Mary goes back to the Hebrew Miryam, whose meaning is long debated, with 'bitter,' 'beloved,' and 'wished-for child' among the readings. The name sits with a family of soft variants like Mariela, Marielle, and Mariella. It carries a further echo through Muriel, sometimes glossed as 'shining sea.' In the US it entered the top 1000 for the first time in 2025, at rank 893.
How to spell Mariel
The standard spelling is Mariel. Common variants include Mariela, Marielle, Mariella, Maria, Muriel, but Mariel is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #772 in 1992, currently #893 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
Commonly MAR-ee-el, three syllables, stress on the first.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Mariel Hemingway American actress nominated for an Academy Award for Manhattan
Spelling variants
- Mariela
- Marielle
- Mariella
- Maria
- Muriel
Names with the same feeling
See Mariel from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Mariel mean?
- A diminutive of Maria or Mary, often influenced by Muriel, with the debated meanings of Miriam behind it.
- What does Mariel mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Mariel means "Diminutive of Mary." Mariel is a diminutive of Maria or Mary, and it has also been shaped by Muriel. Mary goes back to the Hebrew Miryam, whose meaning is long debated, with 'bitter,' 'beloved,' and 'wished-for child' among the readings. The name sits with a family of soft variants like Mariela, Marielle, and Mariella. It carries a further echo through Muriel, sometimes glossed as 'shining sea.' In the US it entered the top 1000 for the first time in 2025, at rank 893.
- Is Mariel short for Maria?
- Yes. Mariel is a short form of Maria, and it carries the same meaning, "Diminutive of Mary." These days many parents use Mariel as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Mariel?
- Mariel is pronounced ˈmɑːr.i.ɛl. Say it as MAR-i-el, with the stress on the "mar" syllable.
- How do you spell Mariel?
- The standard spelling is Mariel. Common spelling variants include Mariela, Marielle, Mariella, Maria, Muriel.
- Is Mariel a boy or girl name?
- Mariel is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Mariel?
- Mariel ranked #893 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.