MUR-fee /ˈmɜr.fi/
At a glance
- In short
- Murphy comes from an Irish surname based on Murchadh, meaning sea warrior.
- U.S. rank 2025 (girls)
- #397
- Babies in 2025 (girls)
- 783 (0.045% of girls)
- As a boy name
- #754 in 2025 (341 babies)Peak #497 in 1892
- Trend (girls)
- Rising #976 in 2020 to #397 in 2025
- Peak (girls)
- #397 in 2025
- Top state (girls)
- #79 in Montana
- First recorded
- 1881 (as a boy name; 1898 as a girl name)
Meaning of Murphy
Murphy is an Irish surname, the anglicized form of Ó Murchadha, meaning descendant of Murchadh. The personal name Murchadh is usually explained as sea warrior, from Gaelic words for sea and battle. Murphy is the most common surname in Ireland, and it is now given as a first name to boys and girls alike.
Many people know the name from Murphy Brown, the American sitcom whose title character, a television journalist, was played by Candice Bergen.
Murphy has risen quickly in the U.S. In 2016 it ranked 1,712th. By 2025 it reached its highest rank yet, 397th, with 783 babies. It is No. 49 among the 1,000 most popular girls' names of 2025, ordered by how fast each climbed the rankings from 2016 to 2025.
How to pronounce Murphy
English
- Pronounced MUR-fee /ˈmɜr.fi/
Popularity of Murphy in the U.S.
Murphy was the #397 girl name in the U.S. in 2025, with 783 babies. It has been in the top 1,000 since 2020. It first appears in the records in 1881, as a boy name, and was the #754 boy name in 2025, with 341 babies.
- Rank among U.S. girl names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Girls year by year, 1898–2025 52 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 783 | 397 | ▲ 77 |
| 2024 | 650 | 474 | ▲ 42 |
| 2023 | 588 | 516 | ▲ 151 |
| 2022 | 443 | 667 | ▲ 52 |
| 2021 | 398 | 719 | ▲ 257 |
| 2020 | 261 | 976 | ▲ 319 |
| 2019 | 177 | 1,295 | ▲ 202 |
| 2018 | 146 | 1,497 | ▼ 2 |
| 2017 | 148 | 1,495 | ▲ 217 |
| 2016 | 124 | 1,712 | ▲ 440 |
| 2015 | 88 | 2,152 | ▲ 1,500 |
| 2014 | 42 | 3,652 | ▲ 891 |
| 2013 | 31 | 4,543 | ▲ 855 |
| 2012 | 25 | 5,398 | ▼ 191 |
| 2011 | 26 | 5,207 | ▼ 472 |
| 2010 | 30 | 4,735 | ▲ 974 |
| 2009 | 24 | 5,709 | ▼ 1,261 |
| 2008 | 34 | 4,448 | ▲ 2,104 |
| 2007 | 20 | 6,552 | ▼ 2,387 |
| 2006 | 35 | 4,165 | ▲ 102 |
| 2005 | 32 | 4,267 | ▲ 549 |
| 2004 | 27 | 4,816 | ▼ 870 |
| 2003 | 34 | 3,946 | ▲ 821 |
| 2002 | 25 | 4,767 | ▲ 1,055 |
| 2001 | 19 | 5,822 | ▼ 510 |
| 2000 | 21 | 5,312 | ▼ 1,342 |
| 1999 | 29 | 3,970 | ▼ 240 |
| 1998 | 31 | 3,730 | ▲ 509 |
| 1997 | 25 | 4,239 | ▼ 516 |
| 1996 | 29 | 3,723 | ▼ 366 |
| 1995 | 33 | 3,357 | ▲ 347 |
| 1994 | 29 | 3,704 | ▲ 173 |
| 1993 | 27 | 3,877 | ▼ 1,582 |
| 1992 | 57 | 2,295 | ▲ 408 |
| 1991 | 44 | 2,703 | ▲ 594 |
| 1990 | 33 | 3,297 | ▲ 180 |
| 1989 | 29 | 3,477 | back (not recorded in 1988) |
| 1987 | 6 | 9,825 | back (not recorded in 1944–1986) |
| 1943 | 5 | 4,691 | back (not recorded in 1940–1942) |
| 1939 | 5 | 4,250 | back (not recorded in 1936–1938) |
| 1935 | 5 | 4,204 | back (not recorded in 1933–1934) |
| 1932 | 5 | 4,411 | ▼ 914 |
| 1931 | 7 | 3,497 | ▲ 550 |
| 1930 | 6 | 4,047 | back (not recorded in 1923–1929) |
| 1922 | 9 | 3,379 | back (not recorded in 1920–1921) |
| 1919 | 7 | 3,817 | ▲ 474 |
| 1918 | 6 | 4,291 | ▼ 208 |
| 1917 | 6 | 4,083 | back (not recorded in 1916) |
| 1915 | 6 | 3,795 | ▼ 1,157 |
| 1914 | 8 | 2,638 | back (not recorded in 1904–1913) |
| 1903 | 5 | 1,792 | back (not recorded in 1899–1902) |
| 1898 | 5 | 1,700 | new |
Boys year by year, 1881–2025 140 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 341 | 754 | ▲ 59 |
| 2024 | 308 | 813 | ▲ 88 |
| 2023 | 258 | 901 | ▼ 16 |
| 2022 | 267 | 885 | ▲ 140 |
| 2021 | 214 | 1,025 | ▼ 60 |
| 2020 | 225 | 965 | ▲ 115 |
| 2019 | 185 | 1,080 | ▲ 80 |
| 2018 | 165 | 1,160 | ▼ 11 |
| 2017 | 165 | 1,149 | ▲ 20 |
| 2016 | 163 | 1,169 | ▲ 59 |
| 2015 | 149 | 1,228 | ▲ 157 |
| 2014 | 123 | 1,385 | ▲ 155 |
| 2013 | 103 | 1,540 | ▲ 402 |
| 2012 | 73 | 1,942 | ▼ 398 |
| 2011 | 102 | 1,544 | ▲ 8 |
| 2010 | 103 | 1,552 | ▲ 165 |
| 2009 | 90 | 1,717 | ▲ 43 |
| 2008 | 85 | 1,760 | ▲ 21 |
| 2007 | 82 | 1,781 | ▲ 369 |
| 2006 | 60 | 2,150 | ▼ 261 |
| 2005 | 67 | 1,889 | ▼ 260 |
| 2004 | 79 | 1,629 | ▲ 377 |
| 2003 | 57 | 2,006 | ▼ 63 |
| 2002 | 57 | 1,943 | ▲ 274 |
| 2001 | 46 | 2,217 | ▼ 273 |
| 2000 | 53 | 1,944 | ▲ 356 |
| 1999 | 39 | 2,300 | ▼ 288 |
| 1998 | 47 | 2,012 | ▼ 79 |
| 1997 | 47 | 1,933 | ▼ 116 |
| 1996 | 50 | 1,817 | ▼ 214 |
| 1995 | 57 | 1,603 | ▲ 40 |
| 1994 | 55 | 1,643 | ▲ 56 |
| 1993 | 51 | 1,699 | ▲ 185 |
| 1992 | 43 | 1,884 | ▼ 570 |
| 1991 | 73 | 1,314 | ▲ 12 |
| 1990 | 70 | 1,326 | ▲ 85 |
| 1989 | 60 | 1,411 | ▲ 438 |
| 1988 | 36 | 1,849 | ▲ 366 |
| 1987 | 26 | 2,215 | ▼ 722 |
| 1986 | 45 | 1,493 | ▲ 678 |
| 1985 | 25 | 2,171 | ▼ 329 |
| 1984 | 30 | 1,842 | ▲ 243 |
| 1983 | 25 | 2,085 | ▼ 156 |
| 1982 | 28 | 1,929 | ▼ 268 |
| 1981 | 35 | 1,661 | ▲ 552 |
| 1980 | 23 | 2,213 | ▼ 843 |
| 1979 | 46 | 1,370 | ▲ 282 |
| 1978 | 33 | 1,652 | ▲ 128 |
| 1977 | 29 | 1,780 | ▼ 311 |
| 1976 | 37 | 1,469 | ▲ 124 |
| 1975 | 32 | 1,593 | ▼ 242 |
| 1974 | 40 | 1,351 | ▲ 385 |
| 1973 | 26 | 1,736 | ▼ 372 |
| 1972 | 38 | 1,364 | ▼ 12 |
| 1971 | 39 | 1,352 | ▲ 83 |
| 1970 | 34 | 1,435 | ▲ 375 |
| 1969 | 21 | 1,810 | ▼ 577 |
| 1968 | 38 | 1,233 | ▲ 274 |
| 1967 | 26 | 1,507 | ▼ 248 |
| 1966 | 36 | 1,259 | ▼ 5 |
| 1965 | 37 | 1,254 | ▼ 238 |
| 1964 | 55 | 1,016 | ▲ 21 |
| 1963 | 53 | 1,037 | ▲ 54 |
| 1962 | 49 | 1,091 | ▲ 188 |
| 1961 | 38 | 1,279 | ▼ 37 |
| 1960 | 40 | 1,242 | ▼ 101 |
| 1959 | 46 | 1,141 | ▼ 123 |
| 1958 | 56 | 1,018 | ▲ 216 |
| 1957 | 40 | 1,234 | ▼ 317 |
| 1956 | 66 | 917 | ▲ 59 |
| 1955 | 59 | 976 | ▼ 37 |
| 1954 | 62 | 939 | ▼ 44 |
| 1953 | 64 | 895 | ▼ 114 |
| 1952 | 81 | 781 | ▲ 121 |
| 1951 | 61 | 902 | ▼ 30 |
| 1950 | 62 | 872 | ▼ 30 |
| 1949 | 66 | 842 | ▲ 68 |
| 1948 | 57 | 910 | ▲ 13 |
| 1947 | 57 | 923 | ▲ 80 |
| 1946 | 46 | 1,003 | ▼ 17 |
| 1945 | 42 | 986 | ▼ 232 |
| 1944 | 68 | 754 | ▲ 74 |
| 1943 | 63 | 828 | ▲ 31 |
| 1942 | 58 | 859 | ▼ 42 |
| 1941 | 60 | 817 | ▲ 45 |
| 1940 | 53 | 862 | ▼ 108 |
| 1939 | 64 | 754 | ▼ 18 |
| 1938 | 69 | 736 | ▲ 99 |
| 1937 | 53 | 835 | ▲ 89 |
| 1936 | 44 | 924 | ▼ 126 |
| 1935 | 60 | 798 | – |
| 1934 | 60 | 798 | ▲ 54 |
| 1933 | 53 | 852 | ▼ 175 |
| 1932 | 81 | 677 | ▲ 139 |
| 1931 | 59 | 816 | ▲ 16 |
| 1930 | 61 | 832 | ▼ 38 |
| 1929 | 66 | 794 | ▲ 144 |
| 1928 | 52 | 938 | ▼ 254 |
| 1927 | 89 | 684 | ▼ 13 |
| 1926 | 89 | 671 | ▲ 130 |
| 1925 | 68 | 801 | ▲ 48 |
| 1924 | 65 | 849 | ▼ 138 |
| 1923 | 83 | 711 | ▲ 37 |
| 1922 | 78 | 748 | ▲ 108 |
| 1921 | 65 | 856 | ▼ 81 |
| 1920 | 73 | 775 | ▼ 22 |
| 1919 | 73 | 753 | ▲ 102 |
| 1918 | 59 | 855 | ▼ 142 |
| 1917 | 73 | 713 | ▲ 11 |
| 1916 | 69 | 724 | ▲ 43 |
| 1915 | 61 | 767 | ▼ 33 |
| 1914 | 51 | 734 | ▲ 196 |
| 1913 | 28 | 930 | ▼ 271 |
| 1912 | 41 | 659 | ▲ 100 |
| 1911 | 18 | 759 | ▲ 63 |
| 1910 | 14 | 822 | ▼ 108 |
| 1909 | 15 | 714 | ▼ 82 |
| 1908 | 17 | 632 | ▼ 121 |
| 1907 | 21 | 511 | ▲ 57 |
| 1906 | 17 | 568 | ▲ 6 |
| 1905 | 17 | 574 | ▲ 149 |
| 1904 | 11 | 723 | ▼ 196 |
| 1903 | 17 | 527 | ▲ 406 |
| 1902 | 7 | 933 | ▼ 206 |
| 1901 | 9 | 727 | ▼ 209 |
| 1900 | 21 | 518 | back (not recorded in 1899) |
| 1898 | 6 | 1,002 | ▼ 446 |
| 1897 | 14 | 556 | ▲ 426 |
| 1896 | 6 | 982 | ▼ 342 |
| 1895 | 11 | 640 | ▲ 147 |
| 1894 | 8 | 787 | ▼ 249 |
| 1893 | 13 | 538 | ▼ 41 |
| 1892 | 16 | 497 | ▲ 344 |
| 1891 | 6 | 841 | ▲ 43 |
| 1890 | 6 | 884 | back (not recorded in 1889) |
| 1888 | 5 | 1,031 | back (not recorded in 1887) |
| 1886 | 7 | 758 | ▲ 178 |
| 1885 | 5 | 936 | back (not recorded in 1884) |
| 1883 | 7 | 720 | back (not recorded in 1882) |
| 1881 | 6 | 781 | new |
Murphy by state
Murphy ranks #79 in Montana (2025).
Rank by state 39 states
| State | Rank | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | 79 | 11 |
| South Dakota | 84 | 11 |
| Nebraska | 120 | 18 |
| Minnesota | 159 | 34 |
| Kansas | 163 | 20 |
| New Hampshire | 174 | 7 |
| Iowa | 199 | 16 |
| Alabama | 201 | 22 |
| Missouri | 208 | 29 |
| Wisconsin | 230 | 24 |
| Washington | 239 | 30 |
| Tennessee | 244 | 32 |
| Utah | 260 | 17 |
| Georgia | 269 | 37 |
| Arkansas | 270 | 11 |
| Oklahoma | 272 | 15 |
| Kentucky | 286 | 15 |
| South Carolina | 294 | 17 |
| Indiana | 305 | 23 |
| Idaho | 308 | 7 |
| Oregon | 320 | 11 |
| Nevada | 328 | 8 |
| Michigan | 340 | 26 |
| Louisiana | 369 | 12 |
| Illinois | 384 | 27 |
| Ohio | 401 | 28 |
| Virginia | 413 | 19 |
| Colorado | 428 | 13 |
| Mississippi | 441 | 6 |
| Connecticut | 459 | 6 |
| Texas | 487 | 66 |
| North Carolina | 560 | 19 |
| Pennsylvania | 576 | 18 |
| Arizona | 578 | 11 |
| Florida | 634 | 27 |
| Maryland | 651 | 7 |
| Massachusetts | 761 | 6 |
| California | 814 | 36 |
| New York | 902 | 17 |
Notable people named Murphy
- As Louisiana's 31st governor, Murphy James Foster supported the 1898 Constitution that disenfranchised African Americans and established long-lasting Democratic one-party rule.