Morgan is a name of
Welsh and
Breton origin. Traditionally, it is a masculine-coded name in
Wales and
Brittany, but has been decoupled from its traditional gender outside of its regions of origin. It spread in popularity outside of Welsh and Breton communities during the past century, including in France, and in English-speaking countries worldwide. Morgan is also used
as a surname, derived from the given name.
The name is a descendant of
Old WelshMorcant, possibly derived from môr (meaning "sea") and "cant" (the circle) or "gen" (come / origin) with the meaning: "sea chief", "sea protector", "sea defender" or "sailor/captain".[1] Contemporaneous records of the first Mormaer, or count de Mar, spelt his name
Morggán, Earl of Mar.
The use of the name for women may be inspired by the character Morgan le Fay from Arthurian legend. For the etymology of Morgan le Fay, see
Morgan le Fay § Etymology and origins.
In the United States it is commonly used for any gender, although it has become a more popular name for women than men since the 1990s. The name is also used for any gender in other English-speaking countries, including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.[2] The French feminine version of the name is
Morgane.
^Cambell, Mike.
"Morgan (1)". Behind the Name. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
Name list
This page or section lists people that share the same
given name. If an
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