Morgan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Morgan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Morgan

A unisex name of Celtic origin meaning "sea-born" or "great circle".

Popularity of Morgan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Morgan is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 87% of people named Morgan being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,245 female babies and 527 male babies born with the name Morgan.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 527 1,245
2022 549 1,375
2021 455 1,445
2020 367 1,489
2019 334 1,648
2018 319 1,759
2017 367 1,925
2016 410 2,339
2015 381 2,687
2014 404 3,005
2013 366 3,116
2012 441 3,401
2011 475 3,672
2010 499 4,076
2009 592 4,610
2008 713 5,334
2007 729 5,665
2006 821 6,494
2005 901 6,749
2004 1,011 7,295
2003 748 7,928
2002 709 8,433
2001 782 8,735
2000 839 9,502
1999 897 9,606
1998 951 10,217
1997 1,062 10,342
1996 1,216 10,294
1995 1,258 10,877
1994 1,023 10,654
1993 862 8,571
1992 989 7,789
1991 906 6,794
1990 936 6,048
1989 827 4,427
1988 829 3,795
1987 770 2,927
1986 674 2,477
1985 682 2,281
1984 700 2,175
1983 623 1,661
1982 632 1,716
1981 767 1,769
1980 706 1,062
1979 503 443
1978 389 259
1977 370 211
1976 304 144
1975 282 114
1974 276 95

The history of the first name Morgan

The name Morgan has its origins in the Welsh language and culture. It is derived from the Old Welsh word "morcant" or "morĂ­an," which means "sea-born" or "circling sea." The name was initially used to describe someone who lived near the sea or made a living from the sea.

In ancient Welsh mythology, Morgan was the name of a famous enchantress and a powerful figure associated with the realm of the fairies. She was often depicted as a healer and a protector of women, and her name carried connotations of wisdom, magic, and mystery.

The name Morgan first appeared in historical records in the 12th century, during the time of the Norman conquest of England. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Morgan ap Caradog, a Welsh prince and military leader who lived in the late 12th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Morgan. One of the most famous was Morgan le Fay, a powerful enchantress and the half-sister of King Arthur in Arthurian legend. She was a complex figure, sometimes portrayed as a villain and other times as a benevolent healer and protector.

Another famous Morgan was Morgan Mwynfawr, a 6th-century Welsh prince and warrior who was renowned for his bravery and leadership in battles against the invading Saxons. His name, which means "Morgan the Gentle," suggests that he was respected for his chivalry and valor on the battlefield.

In the 16th century, Morgan Llwyd (1619-1659) was a Welsh poet and minister known for his religious and patriotic poetry. His works celebrated Welsh culture and language and played a significant role in preserving the nation's literary heritage.

During the American Revolutionary War, Morgan Morgan (1688-1766) was a prominent Welsh-American pioneer and military leader. He served as a colonel in the Continental Army and played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Cowpens.

Another notable figure was Morgan Traherne (1636-1686), a Welsh poet and priest who wrote influential works on mysticism and spiritual enlightenment. His poems and writings explored themes of divine love, unity with nature, and the interconnectedness of all things.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Morgan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Morgan, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Morgan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/morgan-meaning-and-history/.

"Morgan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/morgan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Morgan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/morgan-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.