Beryl

The name Beryl, which is predominantly used for women, translates from English as 'the beryl', a clear gemstone derived from the mineral beryl. This designation has its origin in the Sanskrit word vaiḍūrya (वैडूर्य), which means 'gemstone'. Through the Ancient Greek form bḗryllos (βήρυλλος) and the Latin beryllus, the German word Beryll developed.

What does the name Beryl mean?

Beryl is a female name, and in rare cases also a male name, which literally translates from English as 'the beryl'. This name refers to a clear gemstone that comes from the mineral beryl. The etymology traces back to the Sanskrit word vaiḍūrya (वैडूर्य), which means 'gemstone'. Through the Ancient Greek bḗryllos (βήρυλλος) and the Latin beryllus, the term made its way into German as Beryll and into English as beryl. The name Beryl was particularly popular in England at the beginning of the 20th century, but it is still quite common in English-speaking areas today. Variants of the name include Beril (Turkish) and Beryll (German).

Where does the name Beryl come from?

The etymology of Beryl shows that it is a female and male name with Sanskrit roots, carrying the meaning 'the beryl'. The composition in Sanskrit is vaiḍūrya (वैडूर्य) for 'gemstone', followed by bḗryllos (βήρυλλος) in Ancient Greek, beryllus in Latin, and finally beryl in English. The name is primarily used in English.

How do you pronounce Beryl?

The pronunciation of Beryl is two syllables and stands out due to its unusualness in the German phonetic landscape. The name is pronounced as 'Be-ryl' [ˈbɛrɪl] or in English pronunciation as [ˈbɛrəl]. The combination of an open initial element and the softly flowing 'l' gives the name a special touch. The slight blur in the second syllable contributes to the name's shimmering aura. Beryl sounds elegant and distinctive – delicate, modern, and with an international flair.

When is the name day of Beryl?

The name day for Beryl is celebrated on March 21, in remembrance of Saint Birillus of Catania.

Popularity

In Germany, Beryl is considered one of the less common names. In 2018, it ranked 4,078th on the list of the most popular female baby names. Its best ranking was in 2012, when it reached 3,656th place. Over the last ten years, Beryl has been given as a first name about 20 times, placing it at 6,729th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 6,444th.

Nicknames & pet names

Bebe / Ber / Berly / Berry / Bery / Ly

Similar first names

Famous people

• Beryl Bainbridge (1934–2010), British writer
• Beryl Booker (1922–1978), American jazz pianist
• Beryl Bryant (American actress)
• Beryl Bryden (English jazz musician)
• Beryl Burton (German racing cyclist)
• Beryl Clark (American soccer player)
• Beryl Cook (British artist)
• Beryl Cooke (English actress)
• Beryl Cunningham (Jamaican actress)
• Beryl Cuthbertson (Australian badminton player)
• Beryl Davis (British singer)
• Beryl Drusilla de Zoete (English dancer, writer, and Orientalist)
• Beryl E. Escott (British writer)
• Béryl Émilie Paulette Gastaldello (French Olympic swimmer)
• Beryl Fox (Canadian film director)
• Beryl Grey (British ballet dancer)
• Beryl Ingham (Irish dancer)
• Beryl Irene Irving (British artist)
• Beryl Korot (American artist)
• Beryl Laverick Maulding (English actress; wife of politician Reginald Maulding)