Monroe Unisex

Popularity: #771 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: mun-ROE //mʌnˈroʊ//

Origin: Scottish; English

Meaning: Scottish: mouth of the river; English: from the mouth of the river

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Monroe has its roots in the Scottish Gaelic name "Murchadh," which means "sea warrior." This name evolved through various forms, including the Old Gaelic "Murchadh" and later anglicized as "Monroe." The name entered the English language primarily through the influence of Scottish surnames, particularly during the 17th century when Scottish clans began to migrate and settle in other regions, including North America. The surname Monroe is derived from a place name in Scotland, specifically from the town of Monro in the region of Ayrshire, which itself is believed to be derived from the Gaelic "Muinne Ruadh," meaning "red bog." This geographical connection highlights the name's deep ties to Scottish heritage and landscape.

Historically, the name Monroe gained prominence through notable figures such as James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, who served from 1817 to 1825. His presidency is often associated with the Monroe Doctrine, a significant policy statement that shaped American foreign relations in the 19th century.

The name also appears in various historical texts and documents, reflecting its usage among influential families and individuals throughout the centuries. Additionally, the name has been borne by several saints and notable figures in Scottish history, further embedding it within cultural narratives.

Culturally, Monroe carries connotations of strength and resilience, resonating with the warrior aspect of its etymological roots. The name has been embraced in various artistic and literary contexts, often symbolizing a connection to heritage and identity.

In terms of diminutive forms, "Mon" has occasionally been used as a familiar or affectionate variant, though it is less common. Overall, the name Monroe encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution, historical significance, and cultural resonance.

Famous people named Monroe

In this section, you will find notable people named Monroe. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Monroe who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Monroe who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Monroe Bearden is an artist best known for his collage works and contributions to the Harlem Renaissance.

Fictional characters named Monroe

The following list of fictional characters named Monroe is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Monroe is a fictional character from the TV series Grimm. He is a Wesen who runs a spice shop and serves as a valuable ally to the main character, Nick Burkhardt.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Monroe, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Monroe. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Monroe was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Monroe has ranked as high as #553 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Texas, Mississippi, New York, Alabama, and North Carolina.

In the past 5 years the name Monroe has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Monroe is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Monroe was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Monroe (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
OH 15
16%
TX 10
11%
CA 10
11%
NC 9
9%
NY 8
8%
FL 8
8%
PA 7
7%
IN 6
6%
MN 6
6%
MO 6
6%
WA 5
5%
TN 5
5%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Monroe.

YearBirths
2024153
2023141
2022115
2021189
2020115
2019113
2018117
2017133
2016129
2015142
2014119
2013111
201279
201143
201038
200942
200840
200741
200636
200538
200422
200328
200229
200133
200031
199930
199824
199732
199629
199545
199438
199332
199232
199135
199038
198935
198829
198731
198640
198541
198430
198349
198245
198148
198040
197951
197841
197755
197645
197544
197453
197362
197239
197174
197070
196969
196875
196770
196670
196568
196476
196388
196277
196186
196074
195996
195893
1957127
1956124
1955137
1954113
1953149
1952170
1951145
1950125
1949167
1948190
1947205
1946186
1945154
1944185
1943206
1942188
1941183
1940197
1939191
1938204
1937194
1936223
1935210
1934213
1933219
1932200
1931248
1930261
1929274
1928280
1927302
1926320
1925303
1924293
1923334
1922354
1921375
1920359
1919339
1918362
1917334
1916300
1915310
1914251
1913210
1912175
191191
191078
190975
190881
190772
190672
190579
190464
190367
190259
190162
190089
189944
189858
189758
189663
189563
189458
189363
189258
189147
189053
188968
188874
188756
188673
188554
188456
188346
188276
188158
188053