Murphy
Murphy is a given name of Irish origin.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Murphy
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Murphy is a given name of Irish origin.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Murphy
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Murphy as a girl name dates back to 1898, when 5 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 731 newborns named Murphy — #423 in the national rankings. About 71% of every Murphy on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Murphy ranks #423 for girls with 731 births, rising sharply (+173% over the past five years). All told, over 5K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1890s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Murphy on the record books as a boy name in 1881, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 316 Murphys were born — ranking #806 that year. About 22% of every Murphy on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Murphy ranks #806 for boys with 316 births, rising sharply (+53% over the past five years). All told, over 9K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Murphy
Phonetically similar names — useful when Murphy 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 Murphy
What does the name Murphy mean?
What is the origin of the name Murphy?
How popular is Murphy in 2026?
When was Murphy most popular?
In which U.S. states is Murphy most popular?
Is Murphy a unisex name?
What names go well with Murphy?
About the name Murphy
Murphy is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1881 and has accumulated 9K births in the dataset. Murphy's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #497. Use the chart and map above to compare Murphy's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- 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.