boy's name
Moses
MOH-ziz (English)
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 45,915
the United States
#515
2025 births
Moses is explained in Exodus as drawn out of the water, but the name is more likely Egyptian — mose means born of, and it is the second half of Thutmose and Ramose, where the god's name sits in front.
- Moses is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 2016, when 669 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 5,629 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Moses Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 859 |
| 1890s | 751 |
| 1900s | 847 |
| 1910s | 2,591 |
| 1920s | 3,535 |
| 1930s | 2,721 |
| 1940s | 2,779 |
| 1950s | 2,780 |
| 1960s | 2,106 |
| 1970s | 2,791 |
| 1980s | 3,283 |
| 1990s | 3,635 |
| 2000s | 5,390 |
| 2010s | 5,789 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 3,485 |
What Moses Means
Moses means born of, or son, on the Egyptian reading. The Hebrew explanation of drawn out is a wordplay in the text rather than a derivation from the language.
Where Moses Comes From
Moses is the Hebrew Mosheh. Exodus derives it from mashah, to draw out, because Pharaoh's daughter drew him from the Nile — but the grammar gives an active sense, one who draws out, not a passive one. The likelier source is the Egyptian mose, born of or son, the element ending Thutmose and Ramose, where a god's name precedes it. A Hebrew child raised in an Egyptian household carrying an Egyptian name fits the story rather than contradicting it.
Moses in Use
Moses peaked in the United States in 2016, when 669 babies were registered, and it is stable rather than falling. It now ranks 515th in the United States on 589 births, 590th in Scotland on 5, 633rd in England and Wales on 59 and 6,142nd in France on 5, across 45,915 lifetime births in five markets. England and Wales ran its own peak of 76 births in 2018.
How Popular Is Moses?
In 2025, Moses was given to 589 babies in the United States, ranking #515 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Moses 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 Moses
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Moses Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Moses over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Moses
- English MOH-ziz /ˈmoʊ.zɪz/
1 nickname for Moses
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.
Moses 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 Moses
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Moses — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Moses
What does the name Moses mean?
Born of, on the Egyptian reading — the mose in Thutmose and Ramose.
Does it mean drawn from water?
Exodus says so, but the Hebrew grammar gives an active sense, one who draws out, not a passive one.
Why would he have an Egyptian name?
He is raised in Pharaoh's household in the story, so it fits rather than contradicts it.
How popular is Moses?
515th in the United States, and stable rather than falling.
Is Moses a girl's or a boy's name?
Moses is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Moses?
Moses has 2 syllables.
What are the nicknames for Moses?
Moses is usually shortened to Mo.
Is Moses a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Moses currently ranks #515 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.