Rising since 1986, #469 for boys today.
Popularity of Musa since 1970
Babies named Musa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 102 |
| 1980s | 160 |
| 1990s | 309 |
| 2000s | 761 |
| 2010s | 2,106 |
| 2020s | 2,671 |
Meaning & origin
Musa has been in steady use in the United States since at least 1970, but its popularity has climbed noticeably in recent decades. Ranked 469th in 2025, it occurs in about 1 in every 2,624 newborn boys, reflecting growing interest among Muslim families and others seeking a name with strong religious resonance. The name reached its peak in 2025 after a consistent rise beginning in the 1980s, particularly since 1986. Geographically, Musa is most common in Delaware, Michigan, and New York. Its long history across Arabic, Turkish, and Bosnian cultures gives it a multicultural appeal while remaining distinctive in the American context.
Musa is the Arabic and Turkish form of Moses, derived from the Hebrew name Mosheh, which is traditionally associated with the Hebrew verb mashah ('to draw out'), referencing the biblical account of Moses being drawn from the Nile. In the Quran, Musa is a major prophet, making the name widely used across the Muslim world. It has been consistently popular in Turkey, Bosnia, and among Arabic-speaking communities, and has seen increased use in the United States since the 1970s.
Where Musa 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.
“Musa” around the world
Where Musa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
35
babies in 2024
Ireland
15
babies in 2025
New Zealand
10
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mo, Moose
Sibling names for Musa
Names that share Musa's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Aisha, Fatima, Zara, Layla, Hana, Asiya, Asiyah, Xolani, Haja, Hajra, Hawa, Mandisa, Rumaysa, Haddy, Hawwa, Ruqaya
Brothers: Ibrahim, Yusuf, Omar, Adam, Ali, Ayub, Sulaiman, Ibraheem, Rahman, Yahya, Yasin, Yunus, Abrahim, Ayyub, Dawud, Ebrahim, Ishaq, Rasul, Sulayman, Daoud, Dawood, Ebrima, Jawara, Nuh, Shoaib, Shuaib, Yacoub, Zakarie, Zakariyya, Abdulai, Amadu, Ayuub, Bilaal, Davud, Ishaaq, Juma, Nooh, Shuayb, Younus, Zakariye
