| Casey | Murphy | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Vigilant in war | Sea-warrior |
| Origin | irish | irish |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | KAY-see | MUR-fee |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1888 | 1898 |
| Peak year | 1990 (4,134) | 2025 (783) |
| In 2025 | 1,072 | 783 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Casey | Murphy |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5,474 | 3,123 |
| 2010s | 5,582 | 837 |
| 2000s | 12,261 | 271 |
| 1990s | 29,253 | 337 |
| 1980s | 35,968 | 35 |
| 1970s | 18,987 | 0 |
| 1960s | 4,723 | 0 |
| 1950s | 2,656 | 0 |
| 1940s | 571 | 5 |
| 1930s | 277 | 28 |
| 1920s | 347 | 9 |
| 1910s | 444 | 33 |
| 1900s | 89 | 5 |
| 1890s | 37 | 5 |
| 1880s | 6 | 0 |
From the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, whose byname 'cathasach' derives from 'cath' (battle) and is usually glossed 'vigilant, watchful' (in war); a secondary reading is 'noisy'.
From the Irish surname Ó Murchadha, from 'muir' (sea) and 'cath' (battle), giving 'sea-warrior' or 'sea-battler'. One of the most common surnames in Ireland, now used as a given name.
Casey is more popular than Murphy today: about 1,072 US babies were given the name Casey in 2025, compared with 783 named Murphy.
Casey means Vigilant in war (irish origin), while Murphy means Sea-warrior (irish origin).
In US records, Casey first appears in 1888 and Murphy in 1898, so Casey has the longer recorded history.