Murphy
Gender-neutral name · Celtic · Gaelic · Irish · Irish surname
Meaningsea warrior · Irish
- US rank
- #397
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #397 in 2025
783 babies were named Murphy in the US in 2025. It has climbed 579 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1898–2025
US births per million boys, 1881–2025
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 Murphy you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,053 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Murphy, 783 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Murphy would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMurphy first shows up in US birth records in 1881, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 144 years since.
- Best yearMurphy is at its all-time high right now: #397 in 2025.
- Then vs nowMurphy is 42× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 86,207 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 2,053.
- TrendMurphy has climbed 579 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #397. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedMurphy is most popular in Montana, where it ranks #79, followed by South Dakota (#84) and Nebraska (#120). It's in the top 1,000 in 39 states.
- Boy or girlMurphy is given to both boys and girls: 70% of the 1,124 babies named Murphy in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn Irish, Murphy means “sea warrior”. Our records link it to Celtic, Gaelic and Irish roots.
About the name Murphy
Murphy is a gender-neutral name of Celtic, Gaelic and Irish origin meaning “sea warrior”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-phy”. US birth records list Murphy for girls from 1898 to 2025, in 52 of those 128 years. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #397 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #397, with 783 babies. Of the 1,124 US babies named Murphy in 2025, 70% were girls and 30% were boys.
Origin:Celtic namesGaelic namesIrish namesIrish surname names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 9.7 | 103,627 girls |
| 1900s | 1.9 | 523,560 girls |
| 1910s | 3.4 | 298,507 girls |
| 1920s | 0.8 | 1,333,333 girls |
| 1930s | 2.6 | 384,615 girls |
| 1940s | 0.4 | 2,777,778 girls |
| 1980s | 1.9 | 520,833 girls |
| 1990s | 19 | 53,648 girls |
| 2000s | 15 | 68,213 girls |
| 2010s | 48 | 20,687 girls |
| 2020s | 322 | 3,110 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 31 | 32,432 boys |
| 1890s | 75 | 13,401 boys |
| 1900s | 111 | 9,005 boys |
| 1910s | 74 | 13,501 boys |
| 1920s | 66 | 15,135 boys |
| 1930s | 57 | 17,507 boys |
| 1940s | 39 | 25,582 boys |
| 1950s | 30 | 33,580 boys |
| 1960s | 20 | 49,334 boys |
| 1970s | 21 | 46,642 boys |
| 1980s | 18 | 55,897 boys |
| 1990s | 27 | 36,724 boys |
| 2000s | 34 | 29,577 boys |
| 2010s | 71 | 14,063 boys |
| 2020s | 156 | 6,418 boys |
More Celtic names
- Girl name: Evelyn · possibly desired
- Girl name: Isla · from Islay
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
Questions about the name Murphy
What does the name Murphy mean?
Murphy means “sea warrior” in Irish.
What is the origin of the name Murphy?
Murphy has Celtic, Gaelic, Irish, Irish surname roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Evelyn, Isla, Owen.
Is Murphy a boy or girl name?
Both. Murphy is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 70% of US babies named Murphy were girls.
How popular is the name Murphy?
Murphy ranked #397 for US girls in 2025, given to 783 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#397).