Mordechai
Boy name · #966 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Mordechai? In official American birth records, Mordechai has been tracked continuously since 1950, giving it 75 years of documented American history.
Mordechai ranks #966 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 238 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1103, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,563 boys born in 2025 was named Mordechai.
Babies named Mordechai per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 75-year story
Mordechai first appears in the Social Security records in 1950, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 315 boys were named Mordechai — good for #748 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Mordechai against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Mordechai in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Mordechai is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Mordechai will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Mordechai is most common
State-level data for Mordechai is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Mordechai
Statistically, parents drawn to Mordechai tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Malachai, Malakhai, Malikai, Mordecai, and Shai.
MalachaiMalakhaiMalikaiMordecaiShaiKhaiMarcellusMalakhi
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Mordechai | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 238 | #965 |
| 2024 | 237 | #957 |
| 2023 | 243 | #932 |
| 2022 | 233 | #971 |
| 2021 | 230 | #968 |
| 2020 | 258 | #875 |
| 2019 | 297 | #783 |
| 2018 | 315 | #748 |
| 2017 | 203 | #996 |
| 2016 | 184 | #1073 |
| 2015 | 175 | #1103 |
| 2014 | 184 | #1065 |
| 2013 | 197 | #997 |
| 2012 | 200 | #993 |
| 2011 | 183 | #1037 |
| 2010 | 162 | #1143 |
| 2009 | 165 | #1118 |
| 2008 | 146 | #1205 |
| 2007 | 148 | #1188 |
| 2006 | 136 | #1229 |
| 2005 | 146 | #1123 |
| 2004 | 153 | #1053 |
| 2003 | 169 | #964 |
| 2002 | 124 | #1147 |
| 2001 | 129 | #1100 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Mordechai?
In official American birth records, the name Mordechai first appeared in 1950 (over 75 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 75 years.
Is Mordechai a popular boy name?
Mordechai ranked #966 among boys in 2025 with 238 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1103.
When was the name Mordechai most popular?
Mordechai peaked in 2018, when 315 American boys received the name (ranked #748 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Mordechai?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,563 newborn American boys was named Mordechai. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.