Rising since 1985, #435 for boys today.
Popularity of Moshe since 1942
Babies named Moshe per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 82 |
| 1950s | 343 |
| 1960s | 390 |
| 1970s | 854 |
| 1980s | 1,505 |
| 1990s | 2,253 |
| 2000s | 3,592 |
| 2010s | 5,162 |
| 2020s | 3,836 |
Meaning & origin
Moshe is a classic Hebrew name with deep religious significance, ranking 435th in 2025 with around 1 in 2,346 boys receiving it. It reached its peak popularity that year, and its trajectory has been rising steadily since 1985. The name is most common in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, reflecting strong Jewish communities in those states. While traditionally associated with Jewish families, Moshe has a timeless quality that appeals across denominations, though it remains most prevalent among those seeking a direct connection to the Hebrew Bible.
Moshe is the Hebrew form of Moses, from the Hebrew root mshh meaning 'to draw out,' referencing the biblical story of Moses being drawn from the Nile. An alternative Egyptian etymology suggests mos meaning 'son' or 'child,' possibly combined with the name of a deity such as Thoth. The name has been borne by the central prophet in Judaism and is widely used among Jewish communities worldwide.
Where Moshe is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Moshe” around the world
Where Moshe lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Quebec
22
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mo, Moe, Mosh
Sibling names for Moshe
Names that share Moshe's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Sarah, Rachel, Leah, Miriam, Rebecca, Faiga, Raizy, Rochel, Shaindy, Yehudis, Ruchel, Chavie, Nechuma
Brothers: Yosef, Chaim, David, Aaron, Isaac, Dovid, Shmuel, Tzvi, Yaakov, Yisroel, Aharon, Avraham, Avrohom, Binyomin, Mendy, Simcha, Yechiel, Yisrael, Yitzchak, Yecheskel, Yehudah, Yeshaya, Yechezkel, Yerachmiel, Yochanan, Zalman, Chayim, Eliyohu, Gedalia, Pesach, Yitzhak, Yossef
Names like Moshe
Names whose popularity has moved with Moshe's over the last 50 years.
