Quick answer
Merle is a boy/girl name meaning "blackbird".
Pronunciation: American English /ˈmɜɹl/; British English /ˈmɜːl/.
Meaning and history
This name comes from the English word merle or the French surname Merle, which both mean "blackbird" (from Latin merula ). It was borne by the devious character Madame Merle (in fact her surname) in Henry James' novel The Portrait of a Lady (1880). This name is also common for girls in Estonia, though a connection to the English-language name is uncertain.
Notes and context
Usage: english, estonian