Murray
Boy name · #2604 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Murray? In official American birth records, Murray has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Murray is currently the #2604 boy name in the United States — 50 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2722, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 36,000 boys born in 2025 was named Murray.
Babies named Murray per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Murray first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 17 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1922, when 628 boys were named Murray — good for #206 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Murray against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Murray in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Murray is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Murray will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Murray is most common
State-level data for Murray is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Murray
Statistically, parents drawn to Murray tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marion, Mervin, Merlin, Morris, and Weldon.
MarionMervinMerlinMorrisWeldonHardyMerleMilton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Murray | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 50 | #2604 |
| 2024 | 48 | #2715 |
| 2023 | 62 | #2277 |
| 2022 | 47 | #2753 |
| 2021 | 41 | #2972 |
| 2020 | 47 | #2658 |
| 2019 | 52 | #2525 |
| 2018 | 44 | #2748 |
| 2017 | 52 | #2450 |
| 2016 | 43 | #2783 |
| 2015 | 44 | #2722 |
| 2014 | 40 | #2885 |
| 2013 | 26 | #3864 |
| 2012 | 42 | #2811 |
| 2011 | 31 | #3434 |
| 2010 | 30 | #3531 |
| 2009 | 23 | #4278 |
| 2008 | 26 | #3921 |
| 2007 | 18 | #4996 |
| 2006 | 19 | #4675 |
| 2005 | 33 | #3091 |
| 2004 | 15 | #5246 |
| 2003 | 21 | #3976 |
| 2002 | 18 | #4322 |
| 2001 | 32 | #2864 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Murray?
In official American birth records, the name Murray first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 17 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Murray a popular boy name?
Murray ranked #2604 among boys in 2025 with 50 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2722.
When was the name Murray most popular?
Murray peaked in 1922, when 628 American boys received the name (ranked #206 that year). Since 1922 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Murray?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 36,000 newborn American boys was named Murray. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.