Fun Facts About the Name Morrigan
- More than 1 thousand babies named Morrigan: U.S. records list 1,138 babies given the name Morrigan from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Morrigan Mean?
Morrigan is an English rendering of the Irish name Mórrígan, generally explained as "great queen." It comes from Old Irish mór "great, big" and rígan "queen." The second element derives from Old Irish rí "king," making rígan the feminine counterpart and a relative of Latin rēgina "queen."
A competing, less certain reading connects the first element with ideas of terror, nightmare, or phantom, giving the customary translation "phantom queen." The usual words for nightmare belong to Germanic languages and are not related to Irish, so this is more likely a later interpretation than the original sense. The "great queen" derivation is the better supported one, though the first element is not entirely settled.
Morrigan Name History & Origins
The name belongs to a figure of Irish mythology. The Morrígan appears in Old Irish texts of the Ulster Cycle, most notably Táin Bó Cúailnge, where she is linked with war, fate, and sovereignty and can take the form of a crow or raven. She is sometimes grouped with other war figures such as Badb, Macha, and Nemain, and she is also tied to stories about the land's sovereignty and its kings.
The Old Irish rígan "queen" survives in modern Irish as ríon, as in banríon "queen." The English form Morrigan is a simplified spelling of the Irish name, and as a personal given name it is largely a modern adoption by English speakers drawn to Irish myth. It also appears as a character name in modern fantasy, including the Dragon Age video game series, a literary use distinct from the medieval mythological figure.
How Popular is the Name Morrigan?
Morrigan has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #2,573 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,742 | 63 | 0.0039% |
| 2024 | #3,788 | 40 | 0.0025% |
| 2023 | #2,573 | 69 | 0.0043% |
| 2022 | #3,107 | 53 | 0.0032% |
| 2021 | #3,852 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2020 | #3,475 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 2019 | #3,318 | 48 | 0.0029% |
| 2018 | #3,380 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 2017 | #3,820 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2016 | #3,756 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2015 | #3,375 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 2014 | #3,403 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 2013 | #3,446 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 2012 | #4,191 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2011 | #4,435 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2010 | #4,086 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2009 | #4,252 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2008 | #4,979 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2007 | #4,033 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 2006 | #4,058 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2005 | #4,551 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2004 | #4,578 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2003 | #4,773 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2002 | #4,717 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2001 | #3,609 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2000 | #4,142 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1999 | #4,169 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1998 | #6,281 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #5,554 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1996 | #6,278 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1995 | #10,201 | 8 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Morrigan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Morrigan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Morrigan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.