The baby name Mordechai is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced English: /ˌmɔːrdəˈkaɪ/ (mor-deh-KY); Modern Hebrew: /mordaˈχaj/ (mor-deh-KHAI).
Mordechai is Hebrew in Origin.
The baby name Mordechai is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced English: /ˌmɔːrdəˈkaɪ/ (mor-deh-KY); Modern Hebrew: /mordaˈχaj/ (mor-deh-KHAI).
Mordechai is Hebrew in Origin.
Mordechai is a Hebrew biblical name (מרדכי), borne by Esther’s guardian and cousin in the Book of Esther, central to the Purim story. Its most widely accepted root is the Akkadian/Persian Marduka/Mardukaya, “(man/servant of) Marduk,” the Babylonian chief god. Rabbinic sources also derive it from Aramaic mara dachya or Hebrew mor deror, “pure myrrh,” a reverent reinterpretation that influenced Jewish understanding of the name.
Used across Jewish communities from antiquity through medieval Europe to modern Israel and the diaspora, Mordechai remains a traditional yet durable choice. Variants include Mordecai (English), Mordekhai (transliteration), and Yiddish Mordkhe/Mordche; related forms appear as Mardochaios (Greek) and Mardochaeus (Latin). Nicknames include Motti/Motty, Motl, and Mordy. Notable bearers are theologian Mordecai Kaplan, resistance leader Mordecai Anielewicz, and Canadian novelist Mordecai Richler.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | Boys | 2024 | #136 | 2 | 1,769 |
| PS | 0 | #206 | 13 | 5,692 | |
| IL | 0 | #252 | 23 | 6,291 | |
| Canada | Boys | 2024 | #299 | 8 | 2,588 |
| IL | Boys | 0 | #417 | 198 | 10,983 |
| PS | Boys | 0 | #460 | 89 | 10,655 |
| CR | Boys | 0 | #510 | 1 | 10,188 |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #526 | 1 | 12,621 |
| United States | Boys | 2024 | #661 | 233 | 7,044 |
Mordechai is popular in 7 countries — most recent births per country:
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