Murtha
A masculine name derived from the Irish surname "Muircheartach", with roots in the Gaelic words for "sea" and "lord".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Murtha. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 50.0% of registrations being female. The average person named Murtha today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Murtha births was 1917 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Murtha. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Murtha. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1917
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1918 SSA rank
#4,607
Tracked since 1917
Gender
Gender distribution for Murtha
Murtha is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 10 total registrations, 5 (50.0%) were male and 5 (50.0%) were female.
Murtha as a male name
- Ranked #4,607 in 1918
- 5 male births in 1918
- Peak: 1918 (5 births)
Murtha as a female name
- Ranked #5,090 in 1917
- 5 female births in 1917
- Peak: 1917 (5 births)
Popularity
Murtha: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Murtha by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Murtha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 5 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Murtha
The name Murtha is of Irish Gaelic origin, derived from the ancient Irish word "muircheartach," which means "navigator" or "sea-ruler." This name has its roots in the Celtic culture and was particularly prevalent among coastal communities in Ireland.
The earliest recorded use of the name Murtha dates back to the 8th century CE, when it was mentioned in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. It was often given to individuals who had a close connection with the sea or were skilled in maritime activities.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Murtha was Muircheartach Ua Briain (1024-1119), an Irish king who ruled the provinces of Munster and Leinster. He was renowned for his military prowess and his efforts to unite the Irish clans against the Norse invaders.
In the 12th century, a Scottish nobleman named Murtha of Mar (1141-1205) gained prominence for his role in the Scottish Wars of Independence. He was a trusted advisor to King William the Lion and a skilled diplomat who helped negotiate peace treaties with England.
During the 16th century, an Irish chieftain named Murtha O'Brien (1515-1581) played a significant role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule in Ireland. He was known for his fierce resistance and his unwavering loyalty to the Irish cause.
In more recent times, Murtha Cullina (1892-1970) was a renowned Irish author and poet who wrote extensively about Irish folklore and rural life. Her works, such as "The Loughshore Farmers" and "The Loughshore Homemakers," provided valuable insights into the cultural traditions of Ireland.
Another notable individual with the name Murtha was John Patrick Murtha (1932-2010), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for over three decades. He was a decorated veteran of the Korean War and a influential voice on military and defense issues.
The name Murtha has a rich history rooted in Irish culture and maritime traditions. While its usage has become less common in modern times, it remains a unique and meaningful name with strong ties to Ireland's past.
People
Murtha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Murtha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Murtha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Murtha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Murtha going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Murtha a common name?
We classify Murtha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Murtha most popular?
The single biggest year for Murtha was 1917, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Murtha is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Murtha in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Murtha a female name?
Yes, 50.0% of people registered as Murtha in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Murtha still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Murtha in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Murtha can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Murtha?
Find out how many people share the name Murtha on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.