Moishe
Moishe was the 3915th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 28 babies. Its best year was 1975, when it ranked 1925th; the most babies were born in 2015 (38). Over the last ten years it has moved down 852 places. More babies were named Moishe in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Moshe) Hebrew form of Moses · Hebrew, Egyptian (proposed)
- Rank in 2025
- #3,915 boys, up 460 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 28boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 201538 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,201babies recorded
What does the name Moishe mean?
Moishe is a spelling of Moshe, pronounced the same way, so it shares Moshe's meaning and origin.
Moshe is the Hebrew form of Moses. Exodus 2:10 says Pharaoh's daughter named him because she drew him out of the water, linking Moshe with the Hebrew verb mashah, "to draw out"; DMNES follows this. Wiktionary notes that many scholars see an Egyptian origin, from msj, "to give birth", found in names such as Thutmose. It is a common name in Jewish families.
משֶׁה (Biblical Hebrew, “Moses (linked to 'draw out')”)msj (Egyptian, “to give birth (proposed)”)
How sure is this? Disputed. The Bible's explanation ('drawn out') and an Egyptian origin ('born of') are both held.
Related names: Moses, Moishe, Musa, Moisés.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Moshe', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Moses', DMNES, Durham University
- Hebrew Bible / Tanakh, Exodus 2.10, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria
Moishe popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,915 | 28 |
| 2020 | #4,375 | 23 |
| 2010 | #4,633 | 21 |
| 2000 | #3,496 | 24 |
| 1990 | #3,266 | 19 |
| 1980 | #3,054 | 15 |
| 1970 | #3,443 | 9 |
| 1960 | #2,395 | 13 |
| 1950 | #2,535 | 10 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Moishe, counting every spelling?
Moishe is a spelling of Moshe, a name family that ranked #426 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #3,915 for Moishe on its own. Together these spellings went to 756 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moshe | 728 | #436 | 3,282 |
| Moishe | 28 | #3,915 | 153 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Moishe?
28 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Moishe (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Moishe born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 298 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Moishe.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Moishe?
About 1,100 people born in the US named Moishe are alive today, with a median age of 22; half are between 11 and 40. That makes Moishe mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Moishe by state
How common Moishe was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New York (3.5×). In 50 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Moishe: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Moishe, they share its era and feel.
Moishe is also a nickname for Moshe.
Questions about the name Moishe
What does Moishe mean?
Moishe is a spelling of Moshe, usually explained as “Hebrew form of Moses”, but this is disputed. Certainty: disputed.
How popular is the name Moishe?
Moishe was the 3915th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 28 babies. Its best year was 1975, when it ranked 1925th; the most babies were born in 2015 (38). Over the last ten years it has moved down 852 places. More babies were named Moishe in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Moishe a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Moishe in the US.
Where is Moishe most popular?
In 2021–2025, Moishe was most common in New York (0.06 per 1,000 boys).