boy's name
Morris
MO-ris
- Origin English
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 72,137
Ireland
#804
2015 births
Morris means dark-skinned, from the Latin for a Moor — and the morris dance carries the same word, having been thought to imitate Moorish dancing when it reached England. We record 71,901 lifetime births for it, strongest in the United States.
- Morris is a name of English origin.
- Peaked in 1918, when 1,690 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 36,037 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Morris over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 895 |
| 1890s | 1,234 |
| 1900s | 2,059 |
| 1910s | 12,549 |
| 1920s | 14,247 |
| 1930s | 9,202 |
| 1940s | 8,884 |
| 1950s | 8,390 |
| 1960s | 5,393 |
| 1970s | 2,807 |
| 1980s | 1,980 |
| 1990s | 1,287 |
| 2000s | 996 |
| 2010s | 1,000 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 560 |
What Morris means
Morris means dark-skinned, or Moorish. The Latin Maurus named an inhabitant of Mauretania in North Africa, so the name records origin and complexion together. The sense passes into the modern name unchanged.
Where Morris comes from
Morris is a medieval English form of Maurice, from the Latin Maurus — a Moor, an inhabitant of Roman Mauretania in North Africa, and by extension dark-complexioned. Saint Maurice commanded the Theban Legion and is often shown in armour as a Black knight in German art. The morris dance carries the same root: the name reflects a belief that the dance was Moorish in origin, which is disputed, but the word is the same one.
Morris in use
Morris peaked in the United States in 1918, when 1,690 babies were registered, and our data marks it stable rather than falling. It charts in three of the seven markets we track — 1,762nd in the United States on 92 births and 1767th in England and Wales on 16 — five places apart, which is unusually close for two markets this far down. It holds 71,901 lifetime births.
How popular is Morris?
In 2025, Morris was given to 92 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Morris is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Morris
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Morris also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Morris over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
1 nickname for Morris
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Morris in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Morris
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Morris — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Morris
What does the name Morris mean?
Dark-skinned, or Moorish — the Latin Maurus, an inhabitant of Mauretania.
Is morris dancing related?
The same word. The name reflects a belief the dance was Moorish in origin, which is disputed.
Is Morris the same as Maurice?
Yes — Morris is the medieval English form.
How popular is Morris?
1762nd in the United States and 1767th in England and Wales — five places apart.
Is Morris a girl's or a boy's name?
Morris is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Morris?
Morris has 2 syllables.
What are the nicknames for Morris?
Morris is usually shortened to Mo.
Is Morris a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Morris currently ranks #1,762 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.