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Burl as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Burl

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The baby name Burl is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /bɝl/ (US), /bɜːl/ (UK).

Burl is English in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: English
Pronunciation: /bɝl/ (US), /bɜːl/ (UK)

What is the meaning of the name Burl ?

The baby name Burl is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /bɝl/ (US), /bɜːl/ (UK).

Burl is English in Origin.

Burl is an English given name of both surname and word origin. It comes from Middle English burle, via Anglo-Norman burle, meaning a knot or knob in cloth, later applied to the rounded growths found in trees - the richly grained “burl” prized by woodworkers. As a personal name, it carries connotations of toughness, rarity, and distinctive beauty, suggesting character formed under pressure and valued for its unique pattern.

Used in the United States from the late 19th century, Burl peaked in the early to mid‑20th century and now feels vintage, evoking rustic Americana. Folk singer and actor Burl Ives is its best‑known bearer. Less common variants and related forms include Burle, Burlie, Burlon, Burley, and the surname Burrell; diminutives are uncommon. The name is predominantly masculine, with very rare unisex use.

Burl has the following similar or variant Names

Burl – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
United States Boys 2024 #887 6 7,044
PE Boys 0 #926 1 14,506
MX Boys 0 #1,033 1 16,355
DZ 0 #1,234 1 20,130
ZA Boys 0 #1,271 2 25,619

Burl is popular in 6 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
DZ
MX
PE
PS

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People also ask about Burl

Burl is predominantly a boy's name.
Burl is a one syllable name, pronounced /bɝl/ (US), /bɜːl/ (UK).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Burrell, Burrel, Burle and Burlin.
Somewhat — Burl ranked #887 in United States in 2024, placing it just outside the most common names.
Burl's popularity is declining. It moved from #880 in 2017 to #887 in 2024 in United States.