Moses Name Meaning (Origin, Popularity & Nicknames)

What Does Moses Mean?

Moses is an English biblical name meaning “drawn out (of the water)” or “delivered from/born of the water.” In the Bible, Moses was taken out of the Nile River as a baby by Pharaoh’s daughter and adopted into the royal household. The name is likely inspired by this “drawing out” or “deliverance.” Because of his Egyptian upbringing, Moses’ name likely also has an etymological connection to epithets like Ramesses (born of Ra).

What Is the Origin of the Name Moses?

Moses is English, originating from the Egyptian and Hebrew Moshe, meaning “saved out of/drawn out of the water.” It either stems from the Egyptian element “msy/mes” (son of/born of) or the Hebrew element “mashah” (draw out).

How Popular Is the Name Moses?

Moses is highly popular, ranking 331st most common name worldwide. It peaked on the U.S. charts in 1900 at 181st and ranked 517th in 2022. Moses is most popular in Uganda outside of the West, where it makes the top ten.

How Do I Pronounce Moses?

Moses is pronounced “MOH-zus” and “MOW-zis.”

Is Moses a Boy or Girl Name?

Moses is traditionally a male name.

Variations of Moses

There are many variants of Moses from around the world, as it is a highly popular name. Here is a list of the most common variations of Moses:

• Moïse (French)
• Moishe (Yiddish)
• Moshe (Hebrew)
• Moss (Medieval English)
• Mousa (Arabic)
• Moussa (Western African)
• Movses (Armenian)
• Moyses (Latin)
• Mozes (Dutch)
• Musa (Arabic)

Nicknames for Moses

Have you settled on Moses but want a cute diminutive to compliment your choice? Because Moses is beloved worldwide, there are many variants to take nickname inspiration from. Check out our diverse catalog of nicknames for Moses:

• Maish
• Mo
• Moe
• Moeez
• Momo
• Moos
• Mosi
• Moss
• Moysh
• Moyshee

Similar Names to Moses

If you are searching for names similar in meaning, sound, or appearance, here are some popular options:

• Amos
• Hosea
• Isaiah
• Jethro
• Jonas
• Lazarus
• Manu
• Moises
• Morris
• Musa
• Noah
• Osiris

Middle Names for Moses

We’ve collected some common and well-balanced middle names for Moses. Take a look at 16 popular choices:

• Aaron
• Alexander
• Benjamin
• Dominic
• Edward
• Elijah
• Ezekiel
• Gabriel
• Julian
• Levi
• Mateo
• Matthew
• Nathaniel
• Nehemiah
• Oliver
• Theodore

Sibling Names for Moses

If you need sibling names for Moses, we’ve curated a list of complementary options. Many of these names share a biblical heritage and hold strong historical meaning. Discover several suggestions that pair well with Moses:

For a brother:

• Aaron
• Elias
• Elijah
• Isaac
• Joshua
• Noah
• Silas
• Solomon

For a sister:

• Esther
• Leah
• Miriam
• Moira
• Mona
• Naomi
• Ruth
• Sarah

Famous People Named Moses

The biblical figure Moses is well-known and has been established as a historical leader and prophet of Israel. If you are curious about other interesting namesakes, here is a brief list of famous people named Moses:

• Moses Ben Maimon: Rabbi and philosopher known as Maimonides.
• Moses Dyer: New Zealand football player.
• Moses Jacob Ezekiel: American sculptor.
• Moses Malone: American basketball player.
• Moses Martin: Son of celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin.
• Moses Mbye: Gambian-Australian Rugby League player.

Moses in Popular Culture

Moses is a powerful name that shows up in media, related and unrelated to the Bible. Here are some notable examples of Moses in pop culture:

• Moses: Raven character in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” book.
• Moses: Protagonist of “The Yiddisher Boy” film.
• Moses E. Herzog: Main character in Saul Bellow’s novel “Herzog.”

Moses FAQs

Do you have more burning questions about Moses? Here are the answers to some of the most common ones:

What Does the Name Moses Mean in Greek?

Stemming from the Hebrew Moshe, Moses means “drawn out (of the water)” in Greek, though it usually takes the Greco-Latin form Moyses.

What Is the Feminine Form of Moses?

Moses does not have a direct feminine variant; however, some use Moselle. Moselle is the name of a river in Europe. Although it looks and sounds like Moses, Moselle derives from the Celtic Mosela, a diminutive form of Mosa. Ultimately, it originated in Latin and means “little Meuse (river).”