Murray
Murray: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmʌɹi/ · /ˈmɝ.i/
Meaning and origin of Murray
Root meaning: “sea”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
Scottish surname derived from the place name Moray in northeastern Scotland, from Medieval Latin Moravia, Morauia, from Scottish Gaelic Moireibh, Moireabh, Moreb, ultimately from Proto-Celtic *mori (“sea”) + *trebā (“settlement”).
How popular is Murray?
Since 1880, 391 girls and 21,908 boys in the U.S. have been named Murray (2% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2082 in 1904. Its highest rank for boys was #206 in 1922. In 2025, 58 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Murray
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Murray
Sister and brother names that share Murray's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Murray FAQ
What does the name Murray mean?
Murray traces back to a root meaning "sea". A male given name transferred from the surname. Scottish surname derived from the place name Moray in northeastern Scotland, from Medieval Latin Moravia, Morauia, from Scottish Gaelic Moireibh, Moireabh, Moreb, ultimately from Proto-Celtic *mori (“sea”) + *trebā (“settlement”).
What is the origin of the name Murray?
Murray is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Murray?
Since 1880, 391 girls and 21,908 boys in the U.S. have been named Murray (2% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2082 in 1904. Its highest rank for boys was #206 in 1922. In 2025, 58 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Murray a boy or girl name?
Murray is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 391 girls and 21,908 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.