What Does the Name Monroe Mean?
Monroe is a unisex name of Scottish (Gaelic) origin meaning “mouth of the river Roe.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Monroe |
|---|---|
| Gender | unisex |
| Origin | Scottish (Gaelic) |
| Meaning | mouth of the river Roe |
| Variants | Munro, Munroe, Monro, Monrow |
| Popularity | Most popular in the United States, where it surged for girls after celebrity usage in the 2010s, though it remains used for boys as well. |
The meaning and origin of Monroe
The name Monroe means “mouth of the river Roe” and has Scottish (Gaelic) origins. Monroe is a Scottish surname traditionally said to derive from Gaelic 'bun Rotha,' meaning 'mouth of the (river) Roe,' a river in Ireland from which the clan is said to have originated. Its modern use as a first name owes much to Marilyn Monroe.
Variants and related names
Monroe is related to several other names you may recognize: Munro, Munroe, Monro, Monrow. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Monroe?
Most popular in the United States, where it surged for girls after celebrity usage in the 2010s, though it remains used for boys as well.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Monroe below.
Generate a fake Monroe profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Monroe mean?+
The name Monroe means “mouth of the river Roe” and is of Scottish (Gaelic) origin.
What is the origin of the name Monroe?+
Monroe originates from Scottish (Gaelic).
Is Monroe a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Monroe has trended in the US over time.
Monroe by gender
More unisex names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press