Messiah

Anointed one — a boy name of Hebrew origin

GenderBoy
OriginHebrew
MeaningAnointed one
Pronunciationmuh-SY-uh

Popularity of Messiah in the United States

#207Rank in 2025
1,666Births in 2025
#172 in 2021Peak Popularity
→ Stable10-Year Trend

Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Meaning & Origin of Messiah

Messiah derives from the Hebrew "mashiach," meaning "anointed one," a title referring to a divinely chosen deliverer awaited in Jewish tradition and identified with Jesus Christ in Christian theology, where it passed into Greek as "Christos." As a given name, Messiah is a strikingly modern phenomenon, part of a broader trend since the 2000s of parents using powerful religious titles and virtue words directly as first names, alongside names like Trinity and Genesis. Its use has occasionally sparked public debate, including a widely reported 2013 US court case over a child's legal name, but it has continued to rise steadily in popularity, valued for its profound spiritual weight.

Variations & Nicknames

Variations

MessiahaMasiahMessiyah

Nicknames

Messi

Famous People Named Messiah

  • Messiah deWeaver — American college football quarterback
  • Messiah Horton — American dancer and reality television personality

Sibling Name Ideas for Messiah

Looking for names that pair well with Messiah? Here are some sibling name suggestions that share a similar style and feel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Messiah mean?

Messiah is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "Anointed one." Messiah derives from the Hebrew "mashiach," meaning "anointed one," a title referring to a divinely chosen deliverer awaited in Jewish tradition and identified with Jesus Christ in Christian theology, where it passed into Greek as "Christos." As a given name, Messiah is a strikingly modern phenomenon, part of a broader trend since the 2000s of parents using powerful religious titles and virtue words directly as first names, alongside names like Trinity and Genesis.

How do you pronounce Messiah?

Messiah is pronounced muh-SY-uh. Common variations include Messiaha, Masiah, Messiyah.

Is Messiah a boy name?

Yes, Messiah is traditionally a boy name. Popular nicknames include Messi.

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