Names › Boys' names › M › Messiah
Messiah
Meaning: anointed; saviour · Origin: Hebrew / English · Gender: usually a boy's name
Origin & history
Messiah is an English religious word from Hebrew mashiyach, 'anointed'. In Christian usage it is a title for Jesus Christ and only recently became a personal name.
Popularity of Messiah in the US, 1880–2025
2025: 1,666 US baby boys named Messiah — #207 for boys · Peak: 2,231 in 2021 · 1950: fewer than 5 · 2000: 109 · 2020: 2,036
Source: US Social Security Administration (SSA) national baby-name data, 1880–2025 (names.zip). Counts are babies of that gender given exactly this spelling each year; SSA leaves out a name in any year with fewer than 5 births.
How to pronounce Messiah
mə-SY-uh · IPA /məˈsaɪə/ (common American English pronunciation)
Language of origin
Hebrew mashiah, “anointed”
How the meaning and use of Messiah developed
Messiah is the English form of Hebrew mashiah, “anointed one”; it is a religious word name drawn from Jewish and Christian tradition.
Related names from the same root
Messias · Moshiach
Sibling names that go well with Messiah
Sister: Genesis · Aitana
Brother: Legend · Isaiah
Our editorial suggestions — similar era, style and length — chosen from names with full pages on this site.
Nicknames
Mess
Variants & related names
Moshiach
Messiah name art
A free preview of a printable “Messiah” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
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FAQ
What does the name Messiah mean?
Messiah means “anointed; saviour”. It comes from Hebrew / English.
How do you pronounce Messiah?
Messiah is usually pronounced mə-SY-uh (/məˈsaɪə/).
Is Messiah a popular name?
In 2025, Messiah ranked #207 among boys' names in the United States, given to 1,666 baby boys, according to US Social Security Administration data. Its peak year was 2021 (2,231 babies).
What are nicknames for Messiah?
Mess.
What are other forms of Messiah?
Moshiach.
What are good sibling names for Messiah?
Sister: Genesis, Aitana. Brother: Legend, Isaiah.
Similar names
Joseph · Joshua · Nathan · Caleb · Eli · Aaron
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Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.