Keelan vs Murray
Keelan and Murraycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Keelan was ranked #727 and Murray #88 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Keelan was ranked #211 and Murray #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Keelan was ranked #213 and Murray #398 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Keelan was ranked #1675 and Murray #1282 among boys in England and Wales.
Keelan and Murray over time
Keelan and Murray appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Keelan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Murray in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Murray reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Keelan in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Keelan held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Murray in 3.
Highest recorded here: Keelan #286 in 2004, Murray #471 in 1997.
The order changed in 2022: Murray moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1290 and #1516; by 2022 that had become #2165 and #1420.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Keelan #1675, Murray #1282.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Murray
Pairs where Murray shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- David vs Murray
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — David #1 in 1961, Murray #70 in 1963.
David · Murray · 15 shared years, 1957–1971 · Peaked in the same years
- John vs Murray
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — John #1 in 1954, Murray #16 in 1955.
John · Murray · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Peaked in the same years
- Murray vs Graeme
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Murray and Graeme averaged 4.0 places apart, ending at #100 and #91.
Murray · Graeme · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
- Alan vs Murray
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alan and Murray averaged 4.5 places apart, ending at #93 and #100.
Alan · Murray · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Keelan | Murray |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Originally a Scottish surname/place-name derived from the region of Moray; traditionally glossed as relating to 'seashore' or 'coastal land', though the exact pre-Gaelic (possibly Pictish) root is uncertain. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic, from the place name Moray (possibly of Pictish origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmɜri/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #211 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Murray has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic, from the place name Moray (possibly of Pictish origin)); Keelan does not have one recorded yet.
- Keelan and Murray both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Murray; Keelan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Keelan
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #321 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2023
Highest recorded position: #111 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #211 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Murray
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #17 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1973
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1973).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys