Monroe
Monroe is a unisex given name, a transferred use of the surname.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Monroe
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Monroe is a unisex given name, a transferred use of the surname.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Monroe
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Monroe as a girl name dates back to 1928, when 8 babies received it. 2021 was its biggest year on record, with 587 newborns named Monroe — #525 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 51% of all recorded Monroes. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #568 among girl names with 538 births, gradually rising (+6%). In total, more than 8K Monroes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Monroe as a boy name dates back to 1880, when 53 babies received it. 1921 was its biggest year on record, with 375 newborns named Monroe — #289 in the national rankings. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,303 among boy names with 150 births, gradually rising (+6%). In total, more than 17K Monroes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Monroe
Phonetically similar names — useful when Monroe is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Monroe
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About the name Monroe
Monroe is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 17K births in the dataset. Monroe's peak popularity came in 1921 when it ranked #177. Use the chart and map above to compare Monroe's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1921 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.