Moody
A boy's name of Old English origin with 746 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Moody is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English modig, meaning 'brave, bold, spirited' — the Old English sense being positive, related to courage rather than the modern association with variable emotions. The name was used as a byname for particularly spirited individuals.
Moody as a given name appeared in nineteenth and early twentieth-century American records, primarily as a surname transferred to given-name use. Dwight L. Moody, the influential nineteenth-century American evangelist, gave the name religious significance in Protestant communities.
EtymologyShow more
Though Moody dates back to 1882 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Old English classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Moody’s 746 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Moody has 68+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1882.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 26 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 45 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 84 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 111 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 203 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 162 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 43 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 28 | — |
| 1880s | 29 | — |
The Story of Moody
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1922, Moody is a name steeped in history. Boys named Moody are most likely born between 1912 and 1932.
How rare is Moody?
With 746 total births on record, Moody remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1882, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 203 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Moody by the numbers
- Would fill 16 school buses
- Meeting one Moody per day would take 2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(68 years, 1882–2023)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | #13517 |
| 2022 | 5 | #13691 |
| 1986 | 5 | #7463 |
| 1964 | 7 | #3506 |
| 1963 | 8 | #3243 |
| 1961 | 6 | #3932 |
| 1960 | 5 | #4420 |
| 1959 | 5 | #4383 |
| 1958 | 8 | #3195 |
| 1957 | 8 | #3178 |
| 1953 | 9 | #2845 |
| 1951 | 6 | #3604 |
| 1950 | 9 | #2711 |
| 1949 | 6 | #3583 |
| 1948 | 7 | #3217 |
| 1947 | 8 | #3024 |
| 1945 | 5 | #3631 |
| 1944 | 9 | #2578 |
| 1943 | 9 | #2678 |
| 1942 | 13 | #2113 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moody a boy's or girl's name?
When was Moody most popular?
How popular is the name Moody?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1882–2023