Holding steady.
Popularity of Morse since 1913
Babies named Morse per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1926, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Morse's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 84 |
| 1920s | 123 |
| 1930s | 57 |
| 1940s | 37 |
| 1950s | 55 |
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Morse is an extremely rare given name in the United States, with records dating back to 1913. It reached its highest recorded usage in 1914, though even then it did not rank among the top 1000 names. The name has remained stable in its rarity, with zero recorded uses in many recent years according to Social Security data. While it is best known as a surname tied to inventor Samuel Morse, as a first name it carries a distinct, old-fashioned charm. Its top origins are English, and it has not been associated with any particular state or region in official records.
Morse originated as an English surname derived from the medieval given name Maurice (from Latin Mauritius, meaning 'Moorish' or 'dark-skinned'). It may also have topographic origins from Old English 'mor' meaning 'marsh' or 'moor'. As a given name, Morse has been in sporadic use in the United States since the early 20th century, though it remains rare.
Sibling names for Morse
Names that share Morse's style, for a brother or sister.
