UK name, mostly boys
Morgan
A unisex name of Celtic origin meaning "sea-born" or "great circle".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 9,757 girls.
Morgan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Morgan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #334, with 131 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 1,343 births.
This profile covers 15,994 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 10% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 16,829 living people in the UK are called Morgan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Morgan ranked #334 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 131 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 1,343 boys were registered as Morgan.
- • Morgan ranks best in Wales in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #5 in 2004.
- • Morgan is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 16,829 living people in the UK are estimated to have Morgan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 62.1% of Morgan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#334
2024
Births in 2024
131
Latest year
Peak year
1999
1,343 births
Estimated living
16,829
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Morgan
In England and Wales birth records, Morgan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 62.1% of registrations are for boys and 37.9% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Morgan registered for boys
- Ranked #334 in 2024
- 131 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 1999 (1,343 births)
Morgan registered for girls
- Ranked #520 in 2024
- 75 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2003 (887 births)
Meaning
What does Morgan mean?
The name Morgan has its origins in the Welsh language and culture. It is derived from the Old Welsh word "morcant" or "morían," which means "sea-born" or "circling sea." The name was initially used to describe someone who lived near the sea or made a living from the sea.
In ancient Welsh mythology, Morgan was the name of a famous enchantress and a powerful figure associated with the realm of the fairies. She was often depicted as a healer and a protector of women, and her name carried connotations of wisdom, magic, and mystery.
The name Morgan first appeared in historical records in the 12th century, during the time of the Norman conquest of England. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Morgan ap Caradog, a Welsh prince and military leader who lived in the late 12th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Morgan. One of the most famous was Morgan le Fay, a powerful enchantress and the half-sister of King Arthur in Arthurian legend. She was a complex figure, sometimes portrayed as a villain and other times as a benevolent healer and protector.
Another famous Morgan was Morgan Mwynfawr, a 6th-century Welsh prince and warrior who was renowned for his bravery and leadership in battles against the invading Saxons. His name, which means "Morgan the Gentle," suggests that he was respected for his chivalry and valor on the battlefield.
In the 16th century, Morgan Llwyd (1619-1659) was a Welsh poet and minister known for his religious and patriotic poetry. His works celebrated Welsh culture and language and played a significant role in preserving the nation's literary heritage.
During the American Revolutionary War, Morgan Morgan (1688-1766) was a prominent Welsh-American pioneer and military leader. He served as a colonel in the Continental Army and played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Cowpens.
Another notable figure was Morgan Traherne (1636-1686), a Welsh poet and priest who wrote influential works on mysticism and spiritual enlightenment. His poems and writings explored themes of divine love, unity with nature, and the interconnectedness of all things.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Morgan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Morgan in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Morgan, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 131 births in 2024, compared with 1,343 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Morgan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Morgan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #346 | 637 | 5 |
| 2010s | #192 | 3,385 | 10 |
| 2000s | #75 | 9,016 | 10 |
| 1990s | #92 | 2,956 | 4 |
Geography
Where Morgan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Morgan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Morgan ranks best in Wales in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #5 in 2004.
Across the UK
Morgan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#478 in 2024
47 years of NRS records, 728 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#414 in 2022
22 years of NISRA records, 258 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Morgan
-
Morgan Morse
rugby union player
Welsh rugby union player
2005-
-
Morgan Rogers
association football player
English association football player
2002-
-
Morgan Whittaker
association football player
English association football player
2001-
-
Morgan Smithies
rugby league player
English professional rugby league footballer
2000-
-
Morgan Roberts
association football player
association football player (born 2000)
2000-
-
Morgan Williams
association football player
English footballer
1999-
-
Morgan Smith
rugby league player
rugby league player (1998-)
1998-
-
Morgan Simpson
drummer
English drummer (born 1998)
1998-
Related
Names similar to Morgan
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
- Milo 9,555
FAQ
Morgan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Morgan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Morgan was ranked #334 for boys in England and Wales, with 131 births registered.
When was Morgan most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 1,343 babies registered as Morgan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Morgan?
A unisex name of Celtic origin meaning "sea-born" or "great circle".
How many people are called Morgan in the UK?
A total of 15,994 babies have been registered as Morgan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 728 more in Scotland and 258 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Morgan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Morgan ranks best in Wales, where it placed #5 in 2004. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.