Murphy

Meaning of Murphy

It means "sea warrior" or "sea battler."

Murphy has Irish roots — browse every Irish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Murphy

Murphy is more popular than ever, reaching a new high of #397 in 2025 from #976 in 2020.

Murphy as a boy's name

Murphy is also used as a boy's name, currently ranked #754 in the US. Murphy comes from an Irish surname meaning "sea warrior" or "sea battler."

Notable people named Murphy

• Brittany Murphy
  Actress (Clueless, 8 Mile)
• Murphy Brown
  Fictional TV journalist
• Mary Murphy
  Ballroom dance judge
• Murphy Dunne
  Actress and comedian
• Rosemary Murphy
  American actress

More Irish names

Questions about the name Murphy

What does the name Murphy mean?

Murphy means it means "sea warrior" or "sea battler.", and it comes from Irish origins.

Is Murphy a boy's or a girl's name?

Murphy is used for both boys and girls in the United States, which makes it a unisex name.

How popular is the name Murphy?

In 2025, Murphy ranked #397 for girls, up from #474 the year before and #754 for boys, up from #814 the year before.

When was Murphy most popular?

Murphy peaked at #397 in 2025.