Mordechai
- Pronunciation
- [Mor-de-chai]
- Gender
- Male
- Meaning
- Warrior
- Origin
- Hebrew
About the Name Mordechai
Mordechai is a Hebrew name with a strong, warrior-like sense and a central place in Jewish tradition, borne by the hero of the Book of Esther who helped save his people from destruction. The name itself is often linked to ancient Babylonian roots, and through the Purim story it has become a byword for courage, loyalty, and steadfast faith across many generations of Jewish life and learning.
As a given name, Mordechai is rich and resonant, its four syllables carrying both gravity and warmth. It remains especially treasured within observant Jewish communities, where biblical names hold enduring meaning and connect a child to a long line of tradition. Its full, dignified form gives it a timeless, scholarly presence, while the warm Mordy sound it naturally invites keeps it affectionate and approachable in everyday family use.
Mordechai first entered the US Social Security top-1000 for boys in 2003 and reached its peak in 2018 at rank #750. It has shown remarkable staying power, remaining in the rankings through 2024, when it sat at #966 with 233 births, after ranking #933 in 2023. Across its long run it accounts for 2,374 recorded births, reflecting a deeply rooted traditional name with steady, enduring appeal. It remains a proud, meaningful choice carrying deep roots and a strong sense of heritage.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration name data, 1880–2024 (methodology). By Marvin Tang.
Quick Facts About Mordechai
US Popularity History (2003–2025)
Annual US births named Mordechai by gender, from US Social Security Administration records. Peak year: 2018 with 315 boys named Mordechai (boy rank #750 that year).
Where it stands today: in 2025, ranked #967 for boys (238 US births). That's 217 places below its 2018 peak.
Source: US Social Security Administration. Limitations: US birth-certificate data only; names appearing fewer than 5 times in a given year are suppressed for privacy; spelling variants are counted separately. For names that ranked outside the US top 100 before year 2000, only the years they reached the top 100 are shown — the chart may have gaps for less-popular historical names.
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Compare Mordechai to Other Popular Names
Side-by-side popularity charts and crossover years for Mordechai against today's most popular boys-name peers (top 8 by US births in the last 10 years of SSA records).