Murphy is a unisex name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Murphy means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Murphy across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Murphy has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Murphy is a unisex name of Irish (Gaelic) origin meaning “sea warrior”. A very common Irish surname used as a given name.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 13,174 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 799 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 38 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Murphy per year, United States (1881 to 2025). United States peaked in 2025 (1,124/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2025 (117/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2025 (7/yr).
Murphy has been a fairly common baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2025, when it ranked #594 nationally (given to 1,248 babies that year).
Murphie · Murphee · Marivy · Murphey · Murphi
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →