Girl, also used for boys · Scottish (surname) · International
Monroe
MonroeSay it mun-ROH
- Meaning today
- Mouth of the river Roe
- Original meaning
- "Scottish Munro, "man from Ro"; traditionally the River Roe" Dictionary of American Family Names, s.v. Munro; Monroe
- Say it
- mun-ROH
- Other spellings
- Munroe
Monroe
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Monroe meaning
Monroe is an international girl's name of Scottish origin (surname), also used for boys.
Scottish Munro, "man from Ro"; traditionally the River Roe
Also used to mean: mouth of the river Roe
Monroe is a spelling of the Scottish surname Munro, the name of a Highland clan. The Dictionary of American Family Names derives it from Gaelic Rothach, "man from Ro", and reports a family tradition, which it thinks may be largely correct, that the clan's ancestors came from the foot of the River Roe in County Derry, Ireland: in Irish bun Rotha, which became Munro. Name lists give "mouth of the river Roe", which matches that tradition. It is known through James Monroe, the fifth US president, and the actress Marilyn Monroe. It is said mun-ROH.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd ed. (Patrick Hanks, Oxford University Press, 2022), via Geneanet, s.v. Munro; Monroe · entry Munro · See the entry · checked 27 Oct 2026
References: Dictionary of American Family Names, Munro (Geneanet) · Dictionary of American Family Names, Monroe (Geneanet)
Famous namesakes
- James Monroe, fifth US president (surname)
- Marilyn Monroe, American actress (stage surname)
Popularity abroad
- #467 United States, girls 2025 (up 106 from 573 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #922 England and Wales, girls 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Monroe · Munroe