Murray Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Murray originates from Scottish Gaelic, meaning 'sea warrior'. It evolved from 'Muireadhaigh' to its current form. The name reflects strength and reliability, with no biblical relevance. It gained popularity as both a surname and given name, especially in Scotland, and remains common today.
The name Murray is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Murray has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Murray' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 239th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 326th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 472nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 887th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1923rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3676th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2743rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3371st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4870th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5662nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 14367th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 22630th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35406th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 13046th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Murray' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Murray"
Pronunciation
/ˈmʌri/
Origin
Scottish Gaelic
Etymology
The name Murray is derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Muireadhaigh', which means 'sea warrior' or 'from the sea'. It is also associated with the region of Moray in Scotland.
Meaning
sea warrior
Language Evolution
Muireadhaigh, Murray
Historical Usage
Murray became popular as a surname in Scotland during the medieval period and eventually transitioned into a given name. Its usage has spread beyond Scotland in modern times.
Variants & Derivatives
Muri, Murrayton, Murrie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Murray is perceived as a traditional but enduring name. It is often associated with a strong, reliable character.
Famous People
Murray Rothbard, Murray Perahia, Murray Walker
Explore More Murray Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Murray"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Murray"
"Murray" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 239th of 7545 | 8,335 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 326th of 6773 | 5,327 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 472nd of 7552 | 4,771 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 887th of 10718 | 1,337 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1923rd of 16616 | 586 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3676th of 24088 | 407 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2743rd of 23106 | 546 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3371st of 9107 | 131 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4870th of 9204 | 59 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 5662nd of 12526 | 87 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 14367th of 19264 | 16 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 22630th of 27321 | 11 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 35406th of 35406 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 13046th of 30306 | 74 |
Regional Popularity of "Murray" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
26.06% 369th/1416 |
7.98% 110th/1379 |
16.02% 379th/2366 |
40.37% 461st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
27.36% 423rd/1546 |
10.93% 170th/1556 |
18.19% 428th/2353 |
29.67% 459th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
20.25% 451st/2227 |
15.97% 388th/2430 |
17.28% 493rd/2853 |
18.81% 522nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
35.41% 1040th/2937 |
28.62% 997th/3483 |
23.96% 843rd/3518 |
27.97% 1131st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
49.50% 2215th/4475 |
53.58% 2783rd/5194 |
47.06% 2973rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
76.12% 3931st/5164 |
- |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
75.30% 3000th/3984 |
73.95% 3318th/4487 |
59.57% 4064th/6822 |
53.44% 3354th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Murray" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Murray"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Murray" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.