Tyrell is an English surname of Norman origin, of uncertain meaning, usually explained as coming from the Old French tirer, "to pull", and so describing a "stubborn" person. It became a popular given name in African-American families in the 1980s and 1990s alongside Terrell and Tyrese. Tyrell ranked number 493 in 2000, but has fallen steadily since and stands at number 1973 in 2025.