UK girl's name
Moriah
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "bitterness" or "uplifted".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Moriah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Moriah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 13 births.
This profile covers 160 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 2002 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 85% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 159 living people in the UK are called Moriah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Moriah ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 13 girls were registered as Moriah.
- • About 159 living people in the UK are estimated to have Moriah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2411
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2012
13 births
Estimated living
159
2026
Meaning
What does Moriah mean?
The name Moriah has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew words "mora" (meaning "fear" or "reverence") and "Yahweh" (the Hebrew name for God). The name is associated with Mount Moriah, a significant location in the Bible where Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac.
In the Book of Genesis, Mount Moriah is mentioned as the place where Abraham built an altar to sacrifice Isaac as a test of his faith in God. However, an angel of the Lord intervened, and Abraham was instructed to sacrifice a ram caught in a thicket instead. This event holds immense significance in the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moriah is found in the Bible itself, specifically in the Book of Genesis. Although the name is not used as a personal name in the Bible, it is associated with the sacred mountain where Abraham's sacrifice took place.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Moriah. One of the earliest examples is Moriah Moore (1766-1826), an American schoolteacher and author who wrote educational books for children. Another notable figure is Moriah Woodeson (1817-1894), an English-born Australian poet and writer known for her works on colonial life in Australia.
In more recent times, Moriah Peters (born 1992) is an American contemporary Christian music artist and songwriter. Moriah Plath (born 2001) is an American reality television personality who appeared on the TLC show "Welcome to Plathville."
Another person of note is Moriah Wilson (born 1987), an American actress and singer known for her roles in various television shows and films. Additionally, Moriah Cary (1716-1776) was an American Revolutionary War patriot and officer who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
While the name Moriah has its roots in the Hebrew language and culture, it has been adopted and used by individuals from various backgrounds and nationalities throughout history, reflecting its enduring significance and appeal.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Moriah over time
The chart below shows babies named Moriah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Moriah, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Moriah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Moriah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2438 | 53 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3047 | 82 | 10 |
| 2000s | #4099 | 25 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Moriah
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Moriah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Moriah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Moriah was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Moriah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 13 babies registered as Moriah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Moriah?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "bitterness" or "uplifted".
How many people are called Moriah in the UK?
A total of 160 babies have been registered as Moriah across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.