Holding steady.
Popularity of Moris since 1915
Babies named Moris per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Moris's real moment was 1916.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 37 |
| 1920s | 57 |
| 1930s | 16 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 21 |
| 1990s | 42 |
| 2000s | 59 |
| 2010s | 25 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
The name Moris is a rare given name in the United States, appearing sporadically in Social Security records. Its first recorded use is in 1915, and it reached its peak popularity in 1916, during a time when names like Morris and Maurice were more common. Since then, its usage has been stable but extremely low, with no rank in recent years. The 1910s saw a variety of traditional English names, and Moris likely fit within that trend as a variant spelling. The name's trajectory shows it has never been widely adopted, and it remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a vintage-sounding name with a straightforward pronunciation.
Moris is likely an alternate spelling of Morris, which itself derives from Maurice, a name of Latin origin meaning 'Moorish, dark-skinned'. The name Maurice was brought to England by the Normans and became popular in the Middle Ages, with Morris emerging as a common surname and given name. The spelling Moris appears as a less common variant, possibly influenced by regional pronunciations or as a simplified form. Its use in the early 20th century, particularly in the 1910s, reflects the broader popularity of similar-sounding names of the era.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mo, Moe
Sibling names for Moris
Names that share Moris's style, for a brother or sister.
