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Muriel
I had a great-aunt named Muriel. When my sisters and I were kids, we always pronounced it to rhyme with the word "cereal". As an adult, I began thinking that that wasn't correct, and started making an effort to say it so that the first syllable sounds like the word "your" with an M in front of it. (I can't think how else to describe it!)Anyway. Do you like Muriel? And how do you pronounce it?
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I had a friend named this growing up. It's really cute on the right person, and fresh. I pronounce it Myur-ee-el.
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I've also got a couple of Muriels in my past! I like it because of them, but I'd never use it and I'm not sure why. I nearly used it for a cat once, but I was outvoted.
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Myur-e-el. I want to like it because I like the meaning and I like other Mur- names. My uncle used to be married to someone called Muriel - she was very nice but I still don't like the name overly.I have heard people say "muriel" for "mural" which I find a bit annoying.
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I love it too.It's one of my favourite names right now. It's pretty and gentle-sounding, and yet intelligent. I'd pronounce it myoo-ri-ul.
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I've never been able to warm to it - it just reminds me of the cranky old teacher in that old cartoon Recess. I guess I might like it better if I met a young one. I suppose I could see it on a really artsy, alternative girl.I pronounce it the second way.
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Love itI fell in love with the name Muriel while watching "Muriel's Wedding." I loved the way her sister Joan would say her name, "Oh, Myuuuuurrriel. You're baaaaaad."Muriel, especially when said with a soft, Gaelic "r" is just gorgeous. I hope it makes a comeback. :-)

This message was edited 4/7/2010, 1:05 PM

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Mee-real versus Myoo-real ... I have always said Myoo-real. But the difference is really pretty subtle, because of what the R does to the preceding vowel.It has been one of my faves for a long time. Actually though, the myoor sound is the one thing that puts me off it, just a tiny bit. I wish Miriel was as "solid" a name as Muriel. The sound is brighter and less muddy to me. Even Murry-ul - I don't know how that would be spelled! - sounds slightly more appealing.
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There's also Mariel or Meriel. Both are improvements I think from a sound point of view, though the meaning of Muriel is so excellent!
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Miriel (sometimes Mirielle) is fairly common in my area, and I agree, it's a bright sound.
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I love it.I knew a Muriel in college - she was a lovely person and it's a lovely name. As far as pronunciation, I say it the second way.
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I was just thinking about this name! I like it, it sounds so warm. I say it...hmm...sort of like "mural"...that kind of sliding m-to-y-sound..."myoo-reeul".I can't decide if I like Miriam or Muriel better. I really do enjoy them both. I think Muriel has more modern hipster appeal. Miriam does have a touch of religiousity to it. I could see meeting a tiny Muriel over a tiny Miriam.
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I pronounce it MYUR-ee-uhl (like the name Muir plus ee-uhl). I used to know a Muriel. At first, I wasn't sure about the name, but it has grown on me lately.
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I pronounce it this way too. Or at least try to. I have a hard time pronouncing Rs and Us, especially together.
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