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Home › Baby Names Directory › Morris

Morris

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAWR-ihs /ˈmɔɹ.ɪs/Medium

Meaning: North African, MoorishMedium

In 30 seconds: Morris is an English name meaning 'North African, Moorish', an English form of Maurice.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Medieval English
MeaningNorth African, Moorish
U.S. rank (2025)#1762 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births92 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1918
Total births (all-time)≈ 71,001

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191818802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Morris carries the meaning 'North African' or 'Moorish' and stands as the English form of Maurice. The same root runs through European versions like the German Moritz, the Dutch Maurits, and the Hungarian Moric.

Its plain, two-syllable English shape has a steady, old-fashioned warmth. Football player Morris 'Red' Badgro (1902-1998) and actor Morris Carnovsky (1897-1992) both bore it.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Morris is 'North African, Moorish', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Morris — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

MauritsMauriMauriceMoritzMóric

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Morris "Red" Badgro (1902–1998)
    Football player.
  • ★Morris Carnovsky (1897–1992)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Morris…

Maurice— the name Morris is the English form of
Elvis— shares the -is ending
Harris— a similarly popular pick
Jarvis— another English name
Willis— another English name

Explore names like Morris

By themeenglish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Morris mean?

Morris is usually explained as meaning 'North African, Moorish' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Morris?

It's commonly said MAWR-ihs /ˈmɔɹ.ɪs/.

Is Morris a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Morris is used as a boy name.

How popular is Morris?

In 2024, Morris ranked #1868 in the U.S. for boys, with 86 births recorded.

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