Murphy
Girl name · #397 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Murphy? In official American birth records, Murphy has been tracked continuously since 1898, giving it 127 years of documented American history.
Murphy is currently the #397 girl name in the United States — 783 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2152, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,299 girls born in 2025 was named Murphy.
Babies named Murphy per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 127-year story
Murphy first appears in the Social Security records in 1898, when 5 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 783 babies and a rank of #397. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Murphy against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Murphy in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Murphy is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Murphy is most common
Geography matters for names, and Murphy is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Murphy is most common in MT (3.9 per 1,000), SD (3.6 per 1,000), NE (2.5 per 1,000), KS (1.7 per 1,000), MN (1.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Murphy is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Murphy
Statistically, parents drawn to Murphy tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Malani, Miller, Navy, Kailany, and Marceline.
MalaniMillerNavyKailanyMarcelineMaisieMaisyMarigold
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Murphy | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 783 | #397 |
| 2024 | 650 | #474 |
| 2023 | 588 | #516 |
| 2022 | 443 | #667 |
| 2021 | 398 | #719 |
| 2020 | 261 | #976 |
| 2019 | 177 | #1295 |
| 2018 | 146 | #1497 |
| 2017 | 148 | #1495 |
| 2016 | 124 | #1712 |
| 2015 | 88 | #2152 |
| 2014 | 42 | #3652 |
| 2013 | 31 | #4543 |
| 2012 | 25 | #5398 |
| 2011 | 26 | #5207 |
| 2010 | 30 | #4735 |
| 2009 | 24 | #5709 |
| 2008 | 34 | #4448 |
| 2007 | 20 | #6552 |
| 2006 | 35 | #4165 |
| 2005 | 32 | #4267 |
| 2004 | 27 | #4816 |
| 2003 | 34 | #3946 |
| 2002 | 25 | #4767 |
| 2001 | 19 | #5822 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Murphy?
In official American birth records, the name Murphy first appeared in 1898 (over 127 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Murphy a popular girl name?
Murphy ranked #397 among girls in 2025 with 783 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #2152.
When was the name Murphy most popular?
Murphy peaked in 2025, when 783 American girls received the name (ranked #397 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Murphy?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,299 newborn American girls was named Murphy. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.