Moses
Boy name · #515 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Moses? In official American birth records, Moses has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 583 baby boys were named Moses, placing it at #515 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #468, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,087 boys born in 2025 was named Moses.
The 145-year story
Moses first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 111 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 669 boys were named Moses — good for #460 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Moses per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Moses against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Moses in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Moses is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Moses is most common
Geography matters for names, and Moses is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Moses is most common in OR (0.8 per 1,000), CT (0.8 per 1,000), IA (0.7 per 1,000), WA (0.7 per 1,000), WI (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Moses is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Moses
Statistically, parents drawn to Moses tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Moises, Ulises, Ramses, Ulysses, and Marcos.
MoisesUlisesRamsesUlyssesMarcosJonasMohamedMoshe
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Moses | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 583 | #515 |
| 2024 | 612 | #500 |
| 2023 | 537 | #546 |
| 2022 | 580 | #514 |
| 2021 | 572 | #512 |
| 2020 | 595 | #493 |
| 2019 | 562 | #509 |
| 2018 | 586 | #492 |
| 2017 | 630 | #473 |
| 2016 | 669 | #460 |
| 2015 | 643 | #468 |
| 2014 | 587 | #482 |
| 2013 | 606 | #463 |
| 2012 | 486 | #539 |
| 2011 | 505 | #513 |
| 2010 | 515 | #502 |
| 2009 | 544 | #499 |
| 2008 | 562 | #490 |
| 2007 | 606 | #456 |
| 2006 | 618 | #440 |
| 2005 | 481 | #511 |
| 2004 | 493 | #495 |
| 2003 | 504 | #490 |
| 2002 | 517 | #463 |
| 2001 | 545 | #445 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Moses?
In official American birth records, the name Moses first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 111 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Moses a popular boy name?
Moses ranked #515 among boys in 2025 with 583 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #468.
When was the name Moses most popular?
Moses peaked in 2016, when 669 American boys received the name (ranked #460 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Moses?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,087 newborn American boys was named Moses. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.