The first name Murphy
A unisex name meaning “descendant of murrough”, “son of murrough”.
Pronounced /ˈmɜɹfi/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Murphy means “descendant of murrough”, “son of murrough”.
From Irish Ó Murchadha (“descendant of Murrough”), Mac Murchaidh (“Son of Murrough”), etc. See Muircath.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 65 boys were named Murphy, making it the 593rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 72 births (#535).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Murphy with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Murphy at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 783 girls born in the United States were named Murphy, the 397th 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.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Murphy
- Murph
Other spellings and forms
- Morphis
Famous people named Murphy
8 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Murphy PakiamCatholic archbishop, born 1938
- Murphy J. FosterAmerican politician and entrepreneur (1849-1921)
- Murphy DunneAmerican actor and musician, born 1942
- Murphy LeeAmerican rapper, born 1978
- Murphy AndersonComic artist (1926–2015)
- Murphy GuyerAmerican actor and writer, born 1952
- Chris RabbAmerican politician, born 1970
- Kerry HealeyAmerican politician (born 1960)
Questions
- What does the name Murphy mean?
- Murphy means “descendant of murrough”, “son of murrough”.
- How popular is the name Murphy?
- In 2025, 65 boys born in England and Wales were named Murphy, ranking 593rd. Its peak was 2024, with 72 births.
- What are nicknames for Murphy?
- Common nicknames for Murphy include Murph.
- Is Murphy a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 13,174 US babies named Murphy since 1880, 36% were girls and 64% boys.
- When was Murphy most popular?
- 2025 in the United States, when 783 babies were named Murphy, its highest rank at 397th.
- How do you pronounce Murphy?
- Murphy is /ˈmɜɹfi/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Murphy?
- Morphis.
- Is Murphy also a surname?
- Yes. Murphy is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.