Morrigan Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance

Meaning

Great queen

Origin

Irish (mythological)

Gender

Primarily used for girls

Pronunciation

MOR-ih-gunListen

Morrigan is an Irish name straight out of mythology, and its meaning is 'great queen,' from Mor-Rioghain. You may have seen it explained as 'phantom queen' instead, but that version rests on a weaker theory linking the name's prefix to words for nightmare or terror — 'great queen' is the better-supported reading. It's a name with real linguistic footing behind it, not just a modern invention.

Meaning & Origin of Morrigan

Meaning: Great queen.

Origin: Irish (mythological).

A common claim: Morrigan is often said to mean 'phantom queen' Actually: The better-supported derivation is 'great queen' (Mor-Rioghain); 'phantom queen' comes from a less-favored theory linking the prefix to words for nightmare/terror.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Morrigan

Popularity of Morrigan

Morrigan has stayed rare in Social Security data going back to 1995, peaking at #2573 in 2023 with 69 babies given the name, then falling to #3788 in 2024 with just 40.

Names Like Morrigan

These names have followed a similar path to Morrigan in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Mialani
• Neylan
• Blu
• Metzli
• Nirvi
• Bosco

FAQ

What does the name Morrigan mean?

Great queen. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Morrigan?

Morrigan is pronounced MOR-ih-gun (IPA: /ˈmɒrɪɡən/).

Is Morrigan a popular name right now?

Morrigan peaked at #2573 in 2023 and is ranked #3788 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1995–2024.)

Make Morrigan Name Art

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