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I think it's dour and super-fuddy on a girl, and even worse on a boy. It's not a pretty sound. But it could make an interesting and surprising middle name for a sprightly and princessy and vivacious first name. Possibly. Maybe. In a GP way. Or, eh, maybe not at all.

This message was edited 10/6/2013, 10:21 AM

It's very down-home American country for me. I think of musicians Merle Haggard and Merle Watson.

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It's not awful but I don't think it's a particularly attractive name, either.

I far prefer Meryl; only F of course. Merle has a really discouraging vowel.

Terrible on either gender. Maybe for a gold fish or a rabbit..

All I can think of is Merle Haggard.

My great-aunt was named Merle Augustine, so I think of her. I don't really like the name but I think it's more feminine because it came from Muriel.

It's bad with a generous side of terrible. Muuuuuuuurrrrrll is such a fugly sound.

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If you really really had to, it's all girl to me.

I think of Merle Haggard, so I picture a grizzled, old Okie from Muskogee. Unlike Merrill or Meryl, it's hard for me to picture it on a woman.

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I don't like it much for boys, either.

It's not uncommon on South African women age 60+ - my grandparents knew a few.

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I don't like it. On a woman it sounds too masculine, on a man it sounds really bland.

I don't like the sound of it at all. It suits a male better then a female I think, because the sound sounds incredibly unfeminine to me.

My stepfather has an older brother named Merle. I can't hear it without thinking of him, and he's kind of weird. So, yeah, not really sure about the name.

I like it.

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I like it better for F. On a guy it sounds kinda old and loud to me. On a woman/girl it sounds nifty and a little glamorous.