Moses

At a Glance: Name: Moses – Meaning: uncertain; possibly Egyptian for 'born of' or 'water' – Origin: Hebrew (from Egyptian, uncertain) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: MOH-zez

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Moses is a classic name with Hebrew roots, though it likely traces back further to an Egyptian source, and it's pronounced MOH-zez. You may have heard it means 'drawn out of the water' — that's the explanation the Bible itself gives, but it's considered a folk etymology; the name's actual origin is uncertain, tentatively linked to an Egyptian root for 'to give birth to' or 'water.' It fits both timeless, classic and romantic, storybook feels if you're drawn to names with old, layered histories.

Meaning & Origin of Moses

Meaning: Uncertain; possibly egyptian for 'born of' or 'water'.

Origin: Hebrew (from Egyptian, uncertain).

A common claim: Moses is popularly said to mean 'drawn out (of the water),' from the Bible's own explanation of the name. Actually: That's a folk etymology given in the Biblical text itself (from Hebrew mashah); the name's real origin is likely Egyptian, tentatively linked to 'to give birth to' or 'water,' not the Hebrew 'drawn out' root.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Moses

Phonetic: MOH-zez   IPA: /ˈmoʊzɪz/

Popularity of Moses

Moses ranked #505 in 2024 with 603 babies given the name, well off its peak of #119 in 1880, when 111 babies were named Moses — SSA has tracked it every year since.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Moses Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Moses, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Jonathan
• Nathanael
• Nathaniel
• Abraham
• Aziel
• Baruch

FAQ

What does the name Moses mean?

Uncertain; possibly egyptian for ‘born of’ or ‘water’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Moses)

How do you pronounce Moses?

Moses is pronounced MOH-zez (IPA: /ˈmoʊzɪz/).

Is Moses a popular name right now?

Moses peaked at #119 in 1880 and is ranked #505 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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