Mordecai
Borrowed from Hebrew מָרְדֳּכַי (mordocháy).
Every Mordecai since 1912 — 1,650 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Mordecai
Mordecai is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,100 in 2025 with 70 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1912, 1,650 American babies have been named Mordecai. Its peak came in 2022, when 99 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Mordecai stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Mordecai year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 70 | #2,100 |
| 2024 | 74 | #2,051 |
| 2023 | 80 | #1,947 |
| 2022 | 99 | #1,716 |
| 2021 | 71 | #2,074 |
| 2020 | 84 | #1,795 |
| 2019 | 71 | #2,058 |
| 2018 | 63 | #2,201 |
| 2017 | 64 | #2,148 |
| 2016 | 68 | #2,080 |
| 2015 | 57 | #2,319 |
| 2014 | 52 | #2,453 |
| 2013 | 51 | #2,450 |
| 2012 | 38 | #3,040 |
| 2011 | 29 | #3,668 |
| 2010 | 21 | #4,634 |
| 2009 | 24 | #4,235 |
| 2008 | 19 | #5,010 |
| 2007 | 12 | #6,945 |
| 2006 | 20 | #4,631 |
| 2005 | 19 | #4,586 |
| 2004 | 23 | #3,961 |
| 2003 | 17 | #4,742 |
| 2002 | 12 | #5,960 |
| 2001 | 8 | #8,067 |
| 2000 | 10 | #6,680 |
| 1995 | 6 | #8,530 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | 6 | #5,998 |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | 13 | #2,338 |
| 1960 | 12 | #2,500 |
| 1955 | 5 | #4,214 |
| 1950 | 7 | #3,232 |
| 1945 | 6 | #3,212 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | 6 | #3,528 |
| 1930 | 6 | #3,876 |
| 1925 | 9 | #3,068 |
| 1920 | 5 | #4,755 |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Mordecai
- Mordecai Religious figure
- Mordecai Richler Writer · 1931–2001
- Mordecai Kaplan Writer · 1881–1983
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mordecai mean?
Borrowed from Hebrew מָרְדֳּכַי (mordocháy).
How popular is the name Mordecai in 2025?
Mordecai ranked #2,100 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 70 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Mordecai?
1,650 babies have been named Mordecai in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Mordecai most popular?
Mordecai peaked in 2022, when 99 newborns received the name.
Is Mordecai a boy or girl name?
Mordecai is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Mordecai rising or falling?
Mordecai is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Mordecai?
Well-known people named Mordecai include Mordecai (religious figure), Mordecai Richler (writer), Mordecai Kaplan (writer).