UK girl's name
Morna
An English surname transferred to a first name of debated meaning.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1998. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Morna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Morna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1998 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3848, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1998 to 1998. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.
Morna is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 118 living people in the UK are called Morna. 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 1999 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Morna ranked #3848 for girls in England and Wales in 1998, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 3 girls were registered as Morna.
- • Morna ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #621 in 1999.
- • About 118 living people in the UK are estimated to have Morna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3848
1998
Births in 1998
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
3 births
Estimated living
118
2026
Meaning
What does Morna mean?
The name Morna has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language. It is derived from the Gaelic word "muirneach," which means "cheerful" or "joyful." This name was particularly popular in the medieval era among the Highland clans of Scotland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Morna can be found in the ancient Scottish ballad "The Battle of Harlaw," which dates back to the 15th century. In this poem, Morna is mentioned as the name of a brave warrior who fought alongside the Clan Forbes against the forces of Donald, Lord of the Isles.
In the 16th century, a woman named Morna MacDonald lived in the Scottish Highlands. She was renowned for her skill in traditional Gaelic songs and poetry, and her works were widely celebrated among the Highland clans.
During the 17th century, Morna MacLeod was a prominent figure in the Isle of Skye. She was known for her expertise in herbal remedies and was regarded as a wise and respected healer in her community.
In the 18th century, Morna Cameron was a Scottish noblewoman who played a significant role in the Jacobite uprising of 1745. She was a staunch supporter of Prince Charles Edward Stuart and provided shelter and provisions to his troops during the rebellion.
Another notable figure with the name Morna was Morna Macdonald, a Scottish poet and songwriter who lived in the 19th century. Her works were deeply inspired by the natural beauty of the Highlands and the rich cultural traditions of her homeland.
While the name Morna is not as common today as it once was, it remains a beautiful and historically significant name with deep roots in Scottish Gaelic heritage and culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Morna by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Morna 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3848 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Morna is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Morna. 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.
Morna ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #621 in 1999.
Across the UK
Morna in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#621 in 1999
19 years of NRS records, 117 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Morna
-
Morna Gerrard
archivist; academic
United States academic and archivist
1967-
-
Morna Hooker
preacher; university teacher; biblical scholar; theologian
British theologian, Professor of Divinity
1931-
-
Morna Macleod
Related
Names similar to Morna
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Morna: questions and answers
How popular is the name Morna in the UK right now?
In 1998, Morna was ranked #3848 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Morna most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 3 babies registered as Morna in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Morna?
An English surname transferred to a first name of debated meaning.
How many people are called Morna in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Morna across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 117 more in Scotland.
Where is Morna most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Morna ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #621 in 1999. 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.