UK girl's name
Morrigan
A name deriving from the Celtic goddess of war and death.
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.
Morrigan is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Morrigan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 9 births.
This profile covers 76 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 76 living people in the UK are called Morrigan. 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
- • Morrigan ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 9 girls were registered as Morrigan.
- • About 76 living people in the UK are estimated to have Morrigan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2020
9 births
Estimated living
76
2026
Meaning
What does Morrigan mean?
The name Morrigan has its origins in Irish mythology, specifically in the figure of the Morrigan, a powerful goddess associated with war, fate, and sovereignty. The name is derived from the Old Irish words "mor" meaning "great" and "rigan" meaning "queen."
In ancient Irish folklore, the Morrigan was a complex and multifaceted deity, often appearing in the form of a raven or other carrion bird on the battlefield. She was revered for her ability to shape-shift and influence the outcome of battles. The Morrigan is prominently featured in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, particularly in the epic tale of the Táin Bó Cúailnge.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Morrigan can be found in the 12th-century Book of Leinster, which contains a collection of Irish mythological tales. The Morrigan is also mentioned in several other medieval Irish texts, such as the Book of Invasions and the Metrical Dindshenchas.
Throughout history, the name Morrigan has been borne by a few notable individuals, although its use as a given name was relatively rare until more recent times. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Morrigan MacNessa, a 9th-century Irish princess and daughter of the King of Ulster.
In the 16th century, Morrigan O'Donnell was a renowned Irish noblewoman and chieftain's wife, known for her bravery and leadership during the Nine Years' War against English forces.
Fast-forwarding to the 20th century, Morrigan Edouard (1910-1984) was a French-Canadian artist and illustrator renowned for her intricate botanical illustrations.
Another notable bearer of the name was Morrigan Webb (1942-2006), an American author and academic who wrote extensively on topics related to Celtic mythology and folklore.
More recently, Morrigan Aensland is a popular fictional character from the Darkstalkers video game series, introduced in 1994. Her name and character design draw heavily from the Irish goddess Morrigan, cementing the name's association with themes of power, mystery, and the supernatural.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Morrigan over time
The chart below shows babies named Morrigan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Morrigan, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Morrigan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Morrigan 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 | #3931 | 29 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4705 | 29 | 7 |
| 2000s | #4458 | 13 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2701 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Morrigan
- 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
Morrigan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Morrigan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Morrigan was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Morrigan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 9 babies registered as Morrigan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Morrigan?
A name deriving from the Celtic goddess of war and death.
How many people are called Morrigan in the UK?
A total of 76 babies have been registered as Morrigan across the 17 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.