Nameberry of the Day: Murphy
April 3
Actor and Comedian Edward Regan Murphy — aka Eddie Murphy — was born on April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn, NY.
Widely regarded as one of the best comedians of all time, Murphy rose to fame in the sketch show Saturday Night Live, going on to star in numerous comedy films such as Norbit, Beverly Hills Cop, and The Nutty Professor, as well as voicing hilarious characters like Mushu in Mulan and Donkey in Shrek.
Murphy is a fitting name for a comedian — bright and cheerful, Murphy is one of several playful Irish surnames rising fast, along with Sullivan, Lennon, Finley, Delaney, and more.
Murphy — meaning “sea warrior” — has ranked in the US for boys as far back as 1981. However, the name is making its modern-day appearance as a girl’s name. In 2022, Murphy was given to 266 baby boys, but a whopping 443 baby girls.
If Murphy’s fast-rising popularity puts you off, you may like the Scottish Murray, which was given to only 47 boys and 8 girls last year.
Other unique but fun Celtic surnames that work for any gender include Rooney, Calloway, Flannery, Devlin, Malone, Quinlan, and Tierney.
In case you missed these Nameberries of the Day:
Nameberry of the Day: Isaac
Happy April Fool’s Day! To celebrate this day of jokes, pranks, and tricks, today’s featured name is Isaac, meaning “laughter”. The origins of April Fool’s Day are disputed, but many parts of the world have held similar festivities and traditions dating back dozens of centuries. In Ancient Rome, the
Nameberry of the Day: Buddy
Bernard Rich, better known as Buddy, was an American jazz drummer and bandleader, who died on April 2, 1987. Taking up the drums at just 2 years old, Buddy Rich went on to become one of the most influential drummers of all time. Alongside creating his own band,