boy's name
Messiah
mə-SY-ə (English)
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 3
- Letters 7
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 28,477
the United States
#207
2025 births
Messiah is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "anointed one." It comes from mashiach, and describes a person marked out by having oil poured on them — the literal act behind the title.
- Messiah is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2021, when 2,265 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 1,979 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1973.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Messiah Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1970s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 41 |
| 1980s | 52 |
| 1990s | 349 |
| 2000s | 2,498 |
| 2010s | 13,426 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 11,734 |
What Messiah Means
Messiah means anointed, or one who has been anointed. The Hebrew describes a physical act: kings and priests were consecrated by having oil poured over the head, and the word names the result.
Where Messiah Comes From
Messiah transliterates the Hebrew mashiach, from mashach, to anoint. In the Hebrew Bible it is a title for kings and high priests rather than a single figure — Cyrus of Persia is called God's anointed in Isaiah. Greek rendered it Christos, which is where Christ comes from, so Messiah and Christ are the same word in two languages. Its use as a given name is recent, American and predominantly African American, part of a group with Genesis, Trinity and Nevaeh.
Messiah in Use
Birth records show Messiah peaking in 2021 and still rising, at 207 in the United States against 2,074 in England and Wales. It first appears in birth records in 1973. Its ten-fold transatlantic gap reflects a naming tradition with no British counterpart rather than any difference in religion.
How Popular Is Messiah?
In 2025, Messiah was given to 1,675 babies in the United States, ranking #207 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Messiah Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Messiah
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Messiah Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Messiah over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Messiah
- English mə-SY-ə /məˈsaɪə/
1 nickname for Messiah
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Messiah in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Messiah
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Messiah — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Messiah
What does the name Messiah mean?
Messiah means "anointed one," from the Hebrew mashach, to anoint.
Are Messiah and Christ the same word?
Yes — Christos is the Greek translation of the Hebrew mashiach.
Was Messiah a title before a name?
In the Hebrew Bible it titles kings and high priests. Isaiah even calls Cyrus of Persia God's anointed.
How popular is the name Messiah?
In 2025, Messiah was given to 1,675 babies in the United States, ranking #207 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Messiah a girl's or a boy's name?
Messiah is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Messiah?
Messiah has 3 syllables.
When was Messiah most popular?
Messiah peaked in 2021, when 2,265 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Messiah?
Messiah is usually shortened to Messi.
Is Messiah a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Messiah currently ranks #207 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.