Given name & surname
Morgan
“circling the bright sea; a sea dweller”
Morgan is used as a given name and a surname. One Welsh interpretation is “circling the bright sea; a sea dweller.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Welsh interpretation is “circling the bright sea; a sea dweller.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Welsh, although the derivation remains uncertain.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Morgan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 269,269
- 45,643 boys · 223,626 girls
- Most popular year
- 1995
- 12,135 babies
- 2025
- 1,509
- #312 for girls · #559 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −20%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 22% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 977 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 312 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 32.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 10,877 in 1995. It also appeared in 532 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (97). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 235,724 as a first name in 2020; 276,366 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Morgan’s family of names
Morgan has a related form in Morgen. Morgan has a related form in Morganne. Morgan has a related form in Morgann.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Morgan has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Welsh roots to each of them.
4 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Morgan
- Morgan FreemanAmerican actor and producer (born 1937)
- Morgan Tsvangiraiformer Prime Minister of Zimbabwe (1952-2018)
- Morgan De SanctisItalian association football playerborn 1977
- Morgan SchneiderlinFrench footballer (born 1989)
- Morgan RogersEnglish association football playerborn 2002
- Morgan FairchildAmerican actressborn 1950
- Morgan Gibbs-WhiteEnglish association football player (born 2000)
- Morgan SpurlockAmerican filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer (1970-2024)
- Morgan AmalfitanoFrench footballer (born 1985)
Characters named Morgan: Morgan Jones (fictional character), Morgan Kane (fictional lawman and gunslinger), Morgan le Fay (Marvel Comics).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Morgan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Meredith
“a great ruler; protector of the sea”
>99% girls
Tegan
“one who is attractive; goodlooking” · “a handsome man”
28% boys · 72% girls
Briana
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls
Morcan
“of the bright sea”
>99% girls
Delaney
“the dark challenger” · “from the elder-tree grove”
1% boys · 99% girls
Mackenzie
Mackenzie is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “daughter of a wise leader; a fiery woman; one who is fair” and “the son of a wise leader; a fiery man; one who is fair”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
3% boys · 97% girls
Megan
Megan is used as a given name and a surname. Megan is connected with Meg and Margaret.
>99% girls
Molly
Molly is used as a given name and a surname. Molly is connected with Mary.
>99% girls