Moses
Moses: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈməʊzɪz/ · /-zɪs/
Meaning and origin of Moses
- A male given name from Hebrew.
- A surname transferred from the given name.
Etymology
From Latin Mōsēs, from Ancient Greek Μωσῆς (Mōsês), from earlier Μωυσῆς (Mōusês), from Biblical Hebrew מֹשֶׁה (mōšê). Further etymology is unclear, but it is sometimes conjectured to derive from Egyptian ms-s (msj, “to give birth to”), a common element in Egyptian names of the form ‘[name of deity] is the one who bore him’; or, alternatively, contains Egyptian N35A (mw, “water”).
How popular is Moses?
Since 1880, 51 girls and 43,291 boys in the U.S. have been named Moses (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3577 in 1925. Its highest rank for boys was #119 in 1880. In 2025 it ranked #515 for boys, with 589 babies given the name.
Names similar to Moses
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Hebrew boy names
Sibling name ideas for Moses
Sister and brother names that share Moses's Hebrew roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Moses FAQ
What does the name Moses mean?
A male given name from Hebrew. A surname transferred from the given name. From Latin Mōsēs, from Ancient Greek Μωσῆς (Mōsês), from earlier Μωυσῆς (Mōusês), from Biblical Hebrew מֹשֶׁה (mōšê). Further etymology is unclear, but it is sometimes conjectured to derive from Egyptian ms-s (msj, “to give birth to”), a common element in Egyptian names of the form ‘[name of deity] is the one who bore him’; or, alternatively, contains Egyptian N35A (mw, “water”).
What is the origin of the name Moses?
Moses is listed as a name of Hebrew origin.
How popular is the name Moses?
Since 1880, 51 girls and 43,291 boys in the U.S. have been named Moses (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3577 in 1925. Its highest rank for boys was #119 in 1880. In 2025 it ranked #515 for boys, with 589 babies given the name.
Is Moses a boy or girl name?
Moses is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 51 girls and 43,291 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.