"drawn out of the water"
Moshe
Pronunciation: [ m-ohsh-EH ]
The great prophet's name, exactly as spoken in Hebrew
Meaning & Origin
"born of, son of (Egyptian)"
The Story of Moshe
Moshe is the Hebrew form of Moses, one of the most consequential figures in the Abrahamic tradition. The name's etymology is debated: the Bible explains it as 'drawn out of the water,' reflecting his rescue from the Nile as an infant. Some scholars suggest the name may also have Egyptian origins, related to the Egyptian word 'msy' meaning 'born of' or 'son,' as in Thutmose or Ramesses. Both meanings reflect Moses' dual Egyptian-Israelite identity.
Moshe has been a consistent top name in Israel for generations and remains widely used in Jewish communities worldwide. Outside Jewish communities, it is rarely used, though the anglicized Moses has seen a slight revival among non-Jewish parents attracted to strong Old Testament names.
Moses/Moshe is one of the most towering figures in Jewish tradition — the prophet who received the Torah at Sinai, led the Exodus from Egypt, and spoke with God face-to-face. Moshe is the Hebrew form used in synagogue and Jewish life, while Moses is the Anglicized form. In Israel, Moshe consistently ranks among the most popular boys' names.
Fun Facts
- Moses is one of only a handful of people the Torah describes as having spoken with God 'face to face'
- Moshe Dayan, the Israeli general and defense minister, popularized his iconic eye patch after losing his eye during World War II
Moshe in Other Languages
Famous People Named Moshe
Moshe Kasher
Entertainer
1979
American stand-up comedian, writer, and podcaster known for his memoir Kasher in the Rye
Moshe Dayan
Military
1915
Israeli general, statesman, and Defense Minister, iconic for his distinctive eye patch
Moses (Biblical)
Religious
The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt, received the Torah at Sinai, and is the central figure of the Hebrew Bi...
The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt, received the Torah at Sinai, and is the central figure of the Hebrew Bible
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #492
- Total SSA Count
- 626
- Cultural Origins
- Jewish Israeli Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Low
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Moshe is also used as a girl name, ranked #58287.
View Moshe as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Moshe
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About the Name Moshe
Moshe is a boy name with Jewish, Israeli, and Hebrew origins . The name means "drawn out of the water" in Hebrew .
Is Moshe a boy or girl name? Moshe is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #492 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #58,287. Moshe is more commonly used as a boy name.
Moshe is currently ranked #492 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Moshe has 2 syllables and is pronounced m-ohsh-EH, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Moshe include Mo and Mosh. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.