Murphy Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Murphy is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Murphy?
Murphy is spelled M-U-R-P-H-Y. The name has 6 letters.
Murphy at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- The surname Murphy derives from the Irish Gaelic “Ó Murchadha” or “Ó Murchadh”, meaning “descendant of Murchadh”, with “Murchadh” meaning “sea…
- Origin
- Murphy is an Irish surname that comes from the Gaelic patronymic Ó Murchadha, which means “descendant of Murchadh.”
- Pronunciation
- MUR-fee · 2 syllables
Murphy Popularity in 2025
Rank#397
Recorded Births783
Rank#754
Recorded Births341
- Girls usage rose 77 places to #397 and recorded 133 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 59 places to #754 and recorded 33 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Murphy Mean?
The surname Murphy derives from the Irish Gaelic “Ó Murchadha” or “Ó Murchadh”, meaning “descendant of Murchadh”, with “Murchadh” meaning “sea warrior.”
Origin: Murphy is an Irish surname that comes from the Gaelic patronymic Ó Murchadha, which means “descendant of Murchadh.”
How Do You Pronounce Murphy?
PronunciationMUR-fee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Murphy?
- History
- Murphy has been a common surname in Ireland for centuries and became widespread in English-speaking countries through Irish migration.
Murphy Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 783 | #397 |
| 2025 | Boys | 341 | #754 |
| 2024 | Girls | 650 | #474 |
| 2024 | Boys | 308 | #813 |
| 2023 | Girls | 588 | #516 |
| 2023 | Boys | 258 | #901 |
| 2022 | Girls | 443 | #667 |
| 2022 | Boys | 267 | #885 |
| 2021 | Girls | 398 | #719 |
| 2021 | Boys | 214 | #1,025 |
| 2020 | Girls | 261 | #976 |
| 2020 | Boys | 225 | #965 |
| 2019 | Girls | 177 | #1,295 |
| 2019 | Boys | 185 | #1,080 |
| 2018 | Girls | 146 | #1,497 |
| 2018 | Boys | 165 | #1,160 |
| 2017 | Girls | 148 | #1,495 |
| 2017 | Boys | 165 | #1,149 |
| 2016 | Girls | 124 | #1,712 |
| 2016 | Boys | 163 | #1,169 |
| 2015 | Girls | 88 | #2,152 |
| 2015 | Boys | 149 | #1,228 |
| 2014 | Girls | 42 | #3,652 |
| 2014 | Boys | 123 | #1,385 |
When Was Murphy Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Girls
783 recorded births
National rank #397
2024 · Girls
650 recorded births
National rank #474
2023 · Girls
588 recorded births
National rank #516
2022 · Girls
443 recorded births
National rank #667
Where Murphy Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MT | #79 | 11 |
| SD | #84 | 11 |
| NE | #120 | 18 |
| MN | #159 | 34 |
| KS | #163 | 20 |
| NH | #174 | 7 |
| IA | #199 | 16 |
| AL | #201 | 22 |