Morris
MeaningMoorish, dark · English form of Maurice
- US rank
- #1,753
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #82 in 1912
92 babies were named Morris in the US in 2025. It has dropped 132 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Morris you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Morris
Morris West
Australian writer (1916-1999)
Choose Morris and your child shares a first name with Morris West, an Australian writer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Morris, like who?” Morris West's Wikipedia article is available in 35 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Morris West on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 18,553 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Morris, 92 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Morris would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMorris has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Morriss, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1912, when it ranked #82. Today it's #1,753, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendMorris has slipped 132 places over the last five years and now sits at #1,753. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedMorris is most popular in New York, where it ranks #716, followed by South Carolina (#743). It's in the top 1,000 in 2 states.
- MeaningMorris is an English form of Maurice, which means “Moorish, dark”. Our records link it to English and Latin roots.
About the name Morris
Morris is a boy name of English and Latin origin meaning “Moorish, dark”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-ris”. US birth records list Morris for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1912, when it ranked #82 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #1,753, with 92 babies.
Origin:English namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 819 | 1,221 boys |
| 1890s | 1,077 | 928 boys |
| 1900s | 1,502 | 666 boys |
| 1910s | 1,930 | 518 boys |
| 1920s | 1,284 | 779 boys |
| 1930s | 863 | 1,158 boys |
| 1940s | 604 | 1,655 boys |
| 1950s | 415 | 2,411 boys |
| 1960s | 276 | 3,626 boys |
| 1970s | 168 | 5,940 boys |
| 1980s | 106 | 9,419 boys |
| 1990s | 66 | 15,225 boys |
| 2000s | 50 | 20,048 boys |
| 2010s | 53 | 18,790 boys |
| 2020s | 54 | 18,496 boys |
Other spellings of Morris
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Morris
What does the name Morris mean?
Morris means “Moorish, dark” in English, as a form of Maurice.
What is the origin of the name Morris?
Morris has English, Latin roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Morris a boy or girl name?
Morris is a boy name.
How popular is the name Morris?
Morris ranked #1,753 for US boys in 2025, given to 92 babies. Its best year was 1912 (#82).