UK boy's name
Moussa
A masculine Arabic name derived from Moses meaning "saved from water".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Moussa is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Moussa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3523, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 13 births.
This profile covers 121 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 2002 to 2023. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 120 living people in the UK are called Moussa. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Moussa ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 13 boys were registered as Moussa.
- • About 120 living people in the UK are estimated to have Moussa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3523
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2019
13 births
Estimated living
120
2026
Meaning
What does Moussa mean?
The name Moussa is a masculine given name of Arabic origin, derived from the Semitic root "mšh" meaning "to walk" or "to depart." It is a variant spelling of the name Moses, which has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language. The name is closely associated with the Biblical prophet Moses, who is revered in both Judaism and Islam.
In Islamic tradition, Moussa is considered the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew name Moshe, bestowed upon the prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God. The Qur'an recounts the story of Moussa extensively, depicting him as a prominent messenger of Allah.
The earliest recorded use of the name Moussa can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the Islamic Golden Age. It became a popular name among Muslim communities, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, where Arabic culture and language flourished.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Moussa. One of the most famous was Moussa al-Kazim (699-799 CE), the seventh Imam in Shia Islam and a highly revered scholar known for his wisdom and piety. Another prominent figure was Moussa ibn Nusair (640-715 CE), a military leader and governor during the Umayyad Caliphate.
In the realm of literature, Moussa bin Shākir al-Rababah (1845-1917) was a renowned Jordanian poet and writer who played a significant role in preserving Arabic literary traditions. Moussa Ibrahim Nawfal (1860-1942) was a prominent Egyptian historian and author who made significant contributions to the study of Islamic history and culture.
During the 20th century, Moussa Lakhdar (1925-2015) was an Algerian revolutionary and politician who played a pivotal role in the Algerian War of Independence against French colonial rule. He later served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Moussa throughout history, reflecting its enduring significance across various cultures and regions influenced by Arabic and Islamic traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Moussa over time
The chart below shows babies named Moussa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Moussa, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Moussa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Moussa 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 | #2528 | 34 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3118 | 66 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3446 | 21 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Moussa
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Moussa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Moussa in the UK right now?
In 2023, Moussa was ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Moussa most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 13 babies registered as Moussa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Moussa?
A masculine Arabic name derived from Moses meaning "saved from water".
How many people are called Moussa in the UK?
A total of 121 babies have been registered as Moussa across the 19 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.