Musa
Meaning of Musa
Musa, the Arabic and Swahili cognate of the Hebrew Moshe and the Anglicized Moses, carries the weight of Abrahamic tradition while retaining a concise, globally intelligible form, pronounced MOO-sah (/muˈsɑː/). Etymologically derived from an ancient Northwest Semitic phrase meaning “drawn out [of the water],” the name is borne in the Qur’an by the Prophet Musa, ensuring widespread use throughout the Muslim world. In contemporary Anglo-American settings, U.S. Social Security data reveal a measured but persistent rise—occurrences have quadrupled since the late 1990s, reaching 566 newborns and a national rank of 463 in 2024—reflecting broader preferences for succinct, cross-cultural appellations and the growing visibility of Muslim American families. Phonologically, its open vowels and medial sibilant produce an approachable, rhythmic cadence, while the shared heritage with Moses affords instant recognizability across Christian, Jewish, and Muslim audiences. Thus, Musa occupies the intersection of heritage and modernity, offering parents a choice that is simultaneously venerable, adaptable, and stylistically current.
Pronunciation
Arabic,Swahili
- Pronunced as MOO-sah (/muˈsah/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Musa
| Musa al-Kazim was the seventh Twelver Shia imam, known for his patience, and his succession resolved a crisis that led to the Ismaili separation. |
| Musa al-Sadr - Musa Sadr was a Lebanese Shia cleric of Iranian birth who founded the Amal Movement and numerous charities to empower the Shia community in Lebanon. |
| Musa Habes Almaaytah is a Jordanian politician. |
| Musa of Parthia - Musa, a former Italian slave, became queen of the Parthian Empire by poisoning the king but was soon deposed and fled to Rome. |
| Musa Barrow is a Gambian forward playing for Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Pro League and the national team. |
| Musa Ghiatuddin Riayat Shah of Selangor - Sultan Musa Ghiatuddin Riayat Shah was the Sultan of Selangor during the Japanese occupation and received the Order of the Rising Sun from Emperor Hirohito. |
| Former Soviet cosmonaut Musa Manarov spent 541 days in space. |
| Musa Piroğlu is a Turkish politician from the Revolutionary Party who currently serves in the Grand National Assembly for the People's Democratic Party. |
| Musa Çağıran is a Turkish midfielder for Gençlerbirliği who has played for Turkey's national B team. |
| Musa Al-Koni, a Libyan politician and diplomat, resigned as deputy prime minister due to the Government of National Accord's failure to govern effectively. |
| Musa Kassim Omar - Musa Kassim Omer is a Somali surgeon and politician who served as Somaliland's Minister of Commerce, Industries and Tourism from 2014 to 2016. |
