Moriah first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Moriah has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Moriah

A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "bitterness" or "uplifted".

Popularity of Moriah by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Moriah is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Moriah being female.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 195 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Moriah.

YearMale CountFemale Count
20240195
20230245
20220177
20210182
20200193
20198216
20186203
20170242
20160282
20150278
20140275
20130268
20120309
20118323
20100354
200920376
200813353
20070318
20060297
20050301
20040293
20030305
20020272
20010314
20000358
19990398
19980457
19970504
19960488
19950516
19940499
19930507
19920517
19916477
19906252
19896187
19880169
19878128
19860125
19850109
1984789
1983082
1982092
1981888
1980577
1979782
1978081
1977081
1976059
1975035

The history of the first name Moriah

The name Moriah has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew words "mora" (meaning "fear" or "reverence") and "Yahweh" (the Hebrew name for God). The name is associated with Mount Moriah, a significant location in the Bible where Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac.

In the Book of Genesis, Mount Moriah is mentioned as the place where Abraham built an altar to sacrifice Isaac as a test of his faith in God. However, an angel of the Lord intervened, and Abraham was instructed to sacrifice a ram caught in a thicket instead. This event holds immense significance in the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moriah is found in the Bible itself, specifically in the Book of Genesis. Although the name is not used as a personal name in the Bible, it is associated with the sacred mountain where Abraham's sacrifice took place.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Moriah. One of the earliest examples is Moriah Moore (1766-1826), an American schoolteacher and author who wrote educational books for children. Another notable figure is Moriah Woodeson (1817-1894), an English-born Australian poet and writer known for her works on colonial life in Australia.

In more recent times, Moriah Peters (born 1992) is an American contemporary Christian music artist and songwriter. Moriah Plath (born 2001) is an American reality television personality who appeared on the TLC show "Welcome to Plathville."

Another person of note is Moriah Wilson (born 1987), an American actress and singer known for her roles in various television shows and films. Additionally, Moriah Cary (1716-1776) was an American Revolutionary War patriot and officer who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

While the name Moriah has its roots in the Hebrew language and culture, it has been adopted and used by individuals from various backgrounds and nationalities throughout history, reflecting its enduring significance and appeal.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Moriah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Moriah, please contact us.

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