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At a Glance: Name: Morgan – 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-gan
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
Phonetic: MOR-gan IPA: /ˈmɔːrɡən/
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.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name 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.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
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, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Morgan)
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.)
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