Moses

Pronunciation: [ m-OHZ-uhs ]

Boy Name #506 Most Popular Rising 2 Syllables

The original liberator, reborn for today

Hebrew American African-American Christian Jewish

Spiritual Strong Classic Bold Traditional

Meaning & Origin

"drawn out of water"

Origin: Hebrew via Egyptian

Language: Hebrew

"son, born of"

Origin: Egyptian

Language: Ancient Egyptian

Things to Know About This Name

Strongly religious overtones may feel too heavy for secular families
Associated with the comedian Moses Storm or may prompt 'part the Red Sea' jokes

The Story of Moses

Moses comes from the Hebrew Moshe, likely borrowed from the Egyptian root 'msy' meaning 'son' or 'born of' — as in Thutmose ('born of Thoth'). The biblical narrative explains it through the Hebrew 'mashah' (to draw out), referencing his rescue from the Nile. Moses is one of the most consequential figures in the Abrahamic faiths: lawgiver, liberator, prophet.

Moses is experiencing a hipster-spiritual revival in the 2010s and 2020s, as parents seek weighty, historically resonant Old Testament names. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin naming their son Moses in 2006 boosted its profile significantly.

Moses is revered across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — in Islam he is called Musa and is one of the most mentioned prophets in the Quran.

Fun Facts

Moses appears more times in the Quran than any other prophet, including Muhammad.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their son Moses Bruce Anthony Martin in 2006.
The name Thutmose (Egyptian pharaoh) shares the same Egyptian root '-mose' as Moses.

Moses in Other Languages

Arabic موسى (Musa)

French Moïse

Hebrew משֶׁה (Moshe)

Spanish Moisés

Famous People Named Moses

Moses Martin

Other

2006

Son of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin

Moses Malone

Athlete

1955

NBA Hall of Famer and three-time MVP

Moses (biblical prophet)

Religious

Hebrew prophet, liberator from Egypt and receiver of the Ten Commandments

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #506
Total SSA Count: 603
Cultural Origins: Hebrew American African-American Christian Jewish
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Formal
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Common Nicknames

Mose Mo

Pairs Well With

Moses James Moses Elijah Moses David Moses Emmanuel Moses Abraham Moses Isaac Moses John

Sibling Names

Elijah Abraham Solomon Miriam Deborah Naomi Ruth

Also a Girl Name

Moses is also used as a girl name, ranked #37287.

View Moses as a girl name →

Similar Names

Joseph Elias Joshua Isaiah Jonas Isiah Mathias Thaddeus

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Moses

What does the name Moses mean?

"drawn out of water" (from Hebrew via Egyptian). "son, born of" (from Egyptian). Moses comes from the Hebrew Moshe, likely borrowed from the Egyptian root 'msy' meaning 'son' or 'born of' — as in Thutmose ('born of Thoth'). The biblical narrative explains it through the Hebrew 'mashah' (to draw out), referencing his rescue from the Nile. Moses is one of the most consequential figures in the Abrahamic faiths: lawgiver, liberator, prophet.

What is the origin of the name Moses?

Moses has Hebrew via Egyptian, Egyptian, Hebrew, American, African-American, Christian, and Jewish origins. In Hebrew via Egyptian, it means "drawn out of water". In Egyptian, it means "son, born of".

Is Moses a boy or girl name?

Moses is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #506. As a girl name, it is ranked #37287. Moses is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Moses?

Moses is pronounced m-OHZ-uhs.

How popular is the name Moses?

Moses is currently ranked #506 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Moses?

Common nicknames for Moses include Mose and Mo.

What are good middle names for Moses?

Popular middle name pairings include Moses James, Moses Elijah, Moses David, Moses Emmanuel, Moses Abraham, Moses Isaac, and Moses John.

What are good sibling names for Moses?

Names that pair well with Moses as siblings include Elijah, Abraham, Solomon, Miriam, Deborah, Naomi, and Ruth.

How many syllables does Moses have?

Moses has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Moses a common or rare name?

Moses is moderately common, ranked #506 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.

About the Name Moses

Moses is a boy name with Hebrew, American, African-American, Christian, and Jewish origins . The name means "drawn out of water" in Hebrew via Egyptian .

Is Moses a boy or girl name? Moses is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #506 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #37,287. Moses is more commonly used as a boy name.

Moses is currently ranked #506 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Moses has 2 syllables and is pronounced m-OHZ-uhs, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Moses include Mose and Mo. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.