Morgan

At a Glance

Meaning

Chief (a compound of uncertain 'sea' or 'great' plus a root meaning 'circle, ' together read as 'chief')

Origin

Welsh (Old Welsh)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

MOR-ganListen

Morgan is a Welsh name, from Old Welsh, given to both boys and girls, and pronounced MOR-gan. You might have heard it explained as 'sea circle' or 'bright sea' — that's not quite accurate; the name is a two-part compound usually read as 'chief,' though scholars are uncertain whether the first part means 'sea' or 'great.' It carries a well-traveled, nature-loving feel with an old, vintage soul to it.

Meaning & Origin of Morgan

Meaning: Chief (a compound of uncertain 'sea' or 'great' plus a root meaning 'circle, ' together read as 'chief').

Origin: Welsh (Old Welsh).

A common claim: Morgan is commonly said to mean 'sea circle,' 'bright sea,' or 'sea defender' Actually: These simple 'sea + X' translations don't fully capture the name; scholars trace it to a compound most often rendered 'chief,' with the first element uncertain between 'sea' and 'great.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Morgan

Popularity of Morgan

Morgan hit its highest popularity in 1997, ranking #22 with 10,342 babies given the name that year; by 2024 it had settled to #276, with 1,141 babies named Morgan.

Names Like Morgan

These names share Morgan’s style, era or origin.

• Murphy
• Aeron
• Dilan
• Dylan
• Eleri
• Gaynor

FAQ

What does the name Morgan mean?

Chief (a compound of uncertain ‘sea’ or ‘great’ plus a root meaning ‘circle, ‘ together read as ‘chief’). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Morgan?

Morgan is pronounced MOR-gan (IPA: /ˈmɔːrɡən/).

Is Morgan a popular name right now?

Morgan peaked at #22 in 1997 and is ranked #276 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Morgan Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Morgan, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.