Musa
MYOO-suh
Musa is the Arabic form of Moses, from the Hebrew Mōshēh, traditionally interpreted as “drawn from the water.” In Islamic tradition, Musa is one of the most prominent prophets, mentioned more than any other in the Quran.
The Quranic Musa is identified with the biblical Moses: the same story of the Exodus, the same divine commission to lead his people from Egypt, the same revelation at the mountain.
Musa is at its all-time US peak: No. 525 in 2024 with 566 births. The name reflects the growth of Muslim communities in the United States.
What the name Musa means
Musa I of Mali (c. 1280-1337), known as Mansa Musa, was one of the wealthiest individuals in recorded history. His name carries associations of extraordinary wealth and leadership in West African historical memory.
Two syllables—MOO-suh—are simple and warm. The name works across Arabic, Turkish, Swahili, and West African contexts without modification, making it genuinely pan-Islamic.
In Muslim communities across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, Musa is among the most consistently used masculine names. Its rise in US records reflects diaspora communities maintaining naming traditions.
As Moses and Moises represent the same name in English and Spanish respectively, Musa completes the Abrahamic trio—the same prophet across 3 linguistic traditions.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Musa
Musa - similar names
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity