Rising since 1985, #2,798 for boys today.
Popularity of Murad since 1971
Babies named Murad per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 82 |
| 1980s | 110 |
| 1990s | 146 |
| 2000s | 193 |
| 2010s | 346 |
| 2020s | 256 |
Meaning & origin
Murad is a name of Arabic origin meaning 'desired' or 'wished for,' rooted in a Quranic concept. In the United States, it has been recorded since 1971, though it has never been among the most common names. Its rank of 2,798 in 2025 indicates a stable but modest usage, with a frequency of about 1 in 38,000 births. The name reached its peak popularity in 2016, and since 1985 it has shown a generally rising trajectory. Murad is most often given to boys in New York and California, reflecting its presence in communities with significant Muslim and Middle Eastern populations. Its spelling variants Mourad or Murad are also found, but the name remains strongly tied to its Arabic roots.
Murad derives from the Arabic root r-w-d, carrying the sense of desire or will. It is a direct Quranic vocabulary word (the thing willed or desired) and has been a common given name across the Arabic-speaking world and in Muslim cultures for centuries. The name also appears in Turkish and other languages influenced by Arabic, often with the same aspirational sense of being a wished-for child.
Where Murad is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Murad” around the world
Where Murad lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Murad
Names that share Murad's style, for a brother or sister.
