The first name Monroe
A unisex name from English meaning “human being”, “person”, “man”.
Pronounced /mənˈɹoʊ/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Monroe means “human being”, “person”, “man” in English.
From Old English mann m (“human being, person, man”) + Roe, a river in Northern Ireland, meaning "man from the River Roe".
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 38 girls were named Monroe, making it the 922nd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 52 births (#722).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Monroe with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Monroe at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 658 girls born in the United States were named Monroe, the 467th most popular girls’ name that year.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Monroe in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Famous people named Monroe
7 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- MonroeFrench-American singer (born 2008)
- Monroe BeardsleyAmerican philosopher, 1915–1985
- Monroe SalisburyActor (1876-1935)
- Monroe OwsleyAmerican actor (1900-1937)
- Monroe EdwardsAmerican slave trader, forger and convicted criminal, 1808–1847
- Charles M. SchulzAmerican cartoonist, known for creating the comic strip, "Peanuts" (1922-2000)
- Michael LewisAmerican writer, born 1960
More English unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Monroe mean?
- Monroe means “human being”, “person”, “man” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Monroe?
- From Old English mann m (“human being, person, man”) + Roe, a river in Northern Ireland, meaning "man from the River Roe".
- How popular is the name Monroe?
- In 2025, 38 girls born in England and Wales were named Monroe, ranking 922nd. Its peak was 2024, with 52 births.
- Is Monroe a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 24,360 US babies named Monroe since 1880, 30% were girls and 70% boys.
- When was Monroe most popular?
- 2025 in the United States, when 658 babies were named Monroe, its highest rank at 467th.
- How do you pronounce Monroe?
- Monroe is /mənˈɹoʊ/, 2 syllables.
- Is Monroe also a surname?
- Yes. Monroe is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.