Moshe Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MOH-sheh /ˈmoʊʃə/
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Hebrew: drawn out of the water
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Moshe is of Hebrew origin, derived from the root word "mashah," meaning "to draw out" or "to extract." This etymology is closely linked to the biblical narrative in which Moses, the most prominent bearer of the name, was drawn out of the Nile River by Pharaoh's daughter, as described in the Book of Exodus. The name Moshe appears in various forms in ancient texts, including the Hebrew Bible, where it is transliterated as "Mosheh." The transition into English occurred through the Greek "Mōusēs" and the Latin "Moses," which were used in early Christian texts and translations, including the Septuagint and the Vulgate, before entering Middle English as "Moses." Historically, Moses is a central figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, revered as a prophet and leader who led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage and received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.
His life and deeds are chronicled in the Torah, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, which date back to the 1st millennium BCE. The significance of Moses extends beyond religious texts; he has been a symbol of liberation and moral law throughout history, influencing various cultural and legal systems.
Culturally, the name Moshe carries profound resonance in Jewish tradition, often associated with leadership, faith, and divine guidance. It is celebrated during Jewish rituals and is frequently invoked in prayers and blessings.
The diminutive form "Moishe" is also used affectionately within some communities. The enduring legacy of the name is reflected in its continued use across generations, symbolizing strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Famous people named Moshe
In this section, you will find notable people named Moshe. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Moshe who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Moshe who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Moshe Safdie is an architect and urban planner best known for Habitat 67, Yad Vashem, and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Moshe Feldenkrais was a physicist and martial artist best known for developing the Feldenkrais Method of somatic education.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Moshe, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Moshe. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Moshe was first seen in the United States in 1942.
Moshe has ranked as high as #769 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in New York, California, Maryland, Florida, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Moshe has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Moshe is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Moshe was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Moshe (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 392 | |
| CA | 12 | |
| OH | 9 | |
| FL | 7 | |
| MD | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Moshe.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 626 |
| 2023 | 663 |
| 2022 | 619 |
| 2021 | 625 |
| 2020 | 553 |
| 2019 | 555 |
| 2018 | 549 |
| 2017 | 536 |
| 2016 | 529 |
| 2015 | 533 |
| 2014 | 523 |
| 2013 | 511 |
| 2012 | 499 |
| 2011 | 472 |
| 2010 | 455 |
| 2009 | 431 |
| 2008 | 388 |
| 2007 | 440 |
| 2006 | 418 |
| 2005 | 338 |
| 2004 | 353 |
| 2003 | 359 |
| 2002 | 311 |
| 2001 | 276 |
| 2000 | 277 |
| 1999 | 262 |
| 1998 | 267 |
| 1997 | 265 |
| 1996 | 268 |
| 1995 | 207 |
| 1994 | 216 |
| 1993 | 194 |
| 1992 | 169 |
| 1991 | 193 |
| 1990 | 212 |
| 1989 | 181 |
| 1988 | 191 |
| 1987 | 226 |
| 1986 | 191 |
| 1985 | 118 |
| 1984 | 124 |
| 1983 | 134 |
| 1982 | 110 |
| 1981 | 126 |
| 1980 | 104 |
| 1979 | 117 |
| 1978 | 116 |
| 1977 | 104 |
| 1976 | 107 |
| 1975 | 87 |
| 1974 | 85 |
| 1973 | 71 |
| 1972 | 59 |
| 1971 | 56 |
| 1970 | 52 |
| 1969 | 57 |
| 1968 | 50 |
| 1967 | 36 |
| 1966 | 28 |
| 1965 | 26 |
| 1964 | 24 |
| 1963 | 26 |
| 1962 | 38 |
| 1961 | 45 |
| 1960 | 60 |
| 1959 | 54 |
| 1958 | 55 |
| 1957 | 48 |
| 1956 | 46 |
| 1955 | 24 |
| 1954 | 20 |
| 1953 | 29 |
| 1952 | 24 |
| 1951 | 20 |
| 1950 | 23 |
| 1949 | 18 |
| 1948 | 12 |
| 1947 | 15 |
| 1946 | 7 |
| 1945 | 6 |
| 1944 | 7 |
| 1943 | 8 |
| 1942 | 9 |