Morgan Name Meaning

Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Morgan.

Published on July 8, 2024

Fact checked by Karen Cilli

The name Morgan means "sea-born," "sea-song," or "sea-circle." It is traditionally a boy's name of Welsh origin. More specifically, a variant of the Old Welsh name Morcant, which is a combination of the Welsh elements mor meaning "sea" and cant meaning "circle."

Morgan is also frequently used as a girl's name and is from the Old Welsh name Morgen, meaning “sea-born,” and the Irish name Muirgen, meaning "born of the sea." Morgan is currently more popular for girls than it is for boys in the US. But with its Welsh roots and Celtic charm, the name Morgan is a versatile and gender neutral name.

Origin: The name Morgan is of Welsh and Irish roots meaning, "sea-born," "sea-song," or "sea-circle."
Gender: Morgan is a commonly used gender-neutral name.
Pronunciation: MOR-gyn or mawr-guhn

Editor's Note

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular Is the Name Morgan?

Morgan first arrived on the top 1,000 name chart for boys in 1900 at No. 410. Since then, the name has fluctuated in popularity. Though it has remained in the top 1,000, it has never reached the top 100. The highest it has climbed is to spot 236 in 1995. Since then, Morgan has been on a slow decline in popularity. In 2023, it was at 551st place.

As a girl's name, Morgan landed on the top 1,000 charts much later in 1976 when it ranked 913th. The following decade saw the name Morgan rapidly increase in popularity. By 1987, Morgan was the 95th most popular girl's name in the US.

Even though the name spent decades in the top 100, it has yet to reach top 10 status. Morgan's most popular year as a girl's name was in 1997 when it sat in spot No. 22. Come 2014, Morgan dropped off the top 100 charts, and in 2023, it sat at 247th position.

Name Variations

Variations of the name Morgan include:

Morgana (Welsh)
Morganne (Welsh)
Morgen (Welsh)
Morggen (Welsh)
Morgin (Welsh)
Morgyn (Welsh)
Morrigan (Irish)
Muirgen (Irish)

Similar Names

Names with a similar vibe to Morgan include:

Aiden
Avery
Brogan
Hayden
Jaden
Jordan
Logan
Mason
Phoebe
Riley
Ryland
Sydney
Taylor
Teagan
Quinlan

Other Welsh names to consider include:

Alys
Avalon
Beca
Cai
Carys
Carwyn
Efa
Elis
Enid
Kendrick
Osian
Gwen
Rhett
Rhys
Trevyn

Other names that start with "M" include:

Mallory
Matteo
Martha
Marlon
Margot
Maxim
Maxine
Micah
Milo
Mischa
Molly
Myron
Myna

Suggested Sibling Names

Potential sibling names for Morgan include:

Addison
Dylan
Evan
Finley
Gavin
Hannah
Jackson
Jeston
Kaden
Leo
Niall
Ollie
Paige
Seth
Vienna

Famous People Named Morgan

Some famous people who are named Morgan include:

Morgan Andrews, American soccer player
Morgan Brittany, American actress
Morgan Ensberg, American baseball player
Morgan Fairchild, American actress
Morgan Featherstone, Australian fashion model
Morgan Finley, American politician and businessman
Morgan Freeman, American actor
Morgan Green, American football player
Morgan Grim, American basketball player
Morgan Hamm, American gymnast
Morgan Hurd, American gymnast
Morgan James, American musician
Morgan Pressel, American professional golfer
Morgan Rielly, Canadian hockey player
Morgan Spurlock, American documentary maker
Morgan Ward, American mathematician
Morgan White, American gymnast
Morgan Tsvangirai, former prime minister of Zimbabwe

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

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Sources

Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Popularity of a Name. Social Security Administration. 2024.