Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Moriah

Moriah is a place name derived from the Bible; it’s the mountain where Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God (Genesis 22:2). Later on in the Bible, Mount Moriah is identified as the place where the Temple of Jerusalem is erected by Solomon (2 Chronicles 3:1). Not only that, but Moriah is an important holy site for Muslims as well. The rock upon which Isaac was sacrificially laid by his father Abraham is believed to be the same rock from which Muhammad ascended to paradise in Islamic tradition. We think it’s pretty safe to say that was one significant and sacred rock up there on Mt. Moriah! From an etymological perspective there is no certainty as to Moriah’s root meaning, although there is plenty of speculation. We do know the name comes from the Hebrew “Mōrīyyāh and possibly means “seen by Yahweh” in reference to the nail-biting near-sacrifice of Isaac upon the mountain. In the same vein others theorize it means “place of fear” or “place of vision”. In reference to the Temple location, others conjecture Moriah means “teaching place” or “place of worship”. Still others believe it means “place of myrrh” (from the Hebrew word “mor”) or “place of the Amorites” (an ancient Mesopotamian tribe). Regardless, Mt. Moriah has meaning enough alone across all three monotheistic religions which makes this name sacred and holy from several perspectives. All of the guesswork regarding Moriah’s true etymology seems secondary to the events which took place on that holy mountain.

All About the Baby Name – Moriah

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME MORIAH

The number one personality is a leader - strong and competitive. They are willing to initiate action and take risks. One personalities work hard toward their endeavors and have the ability to apply their creative and innovative thinking skills with strong determination. They believe in their ability to succeed and are too stubborn to be hindered by obstacles. Ones meet obstacles head-on with such mental vigor and energy that you better step aside. They resent taking orders, so don't try telling them what to do either. This is an intensely active personality, but they are also known as starters rather than finishers. They have a propensity to become bored and will move quickly to the next project if not properly challenged.  They are the ones to think up and put into action new and brilliant ideas, but they are not the ones to stick around and manage them. This personality has an enthusiastic and pioneering spirit. They are distinctly original.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME MORIAH

Moriah is not to be confused with Mariah (which is really just a fancy form of Mary/Maria). Moriah is an actual place name referenced in the Bible and important among Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. For that reason alone, we give this name a resounding thumbs up. Although ancient in terms of its location, Moriah is quite new as a female given name in the United States. She first reared her lovely head on the American female naming charts in 1988. Pretty quickly Moriah rose to levels of mild-moderation but her success was only fleeting. Today the name is rarely used but still hanging on to the charts. Moriah is a great name choice for the religiously obedient. Despite its primordial existence during a period of history when God routinely spoke directly to his minions, Moriah still somehow feels fresh and modern as a female personal name. It’s different but it works. Nicknames could include Mo and Morrie.

Quick Facts

ON MORIAH

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

Hebrew

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

3

RANKING POPULARITY:

948

PRONUNCIATION:

mo-RIE-ə

SIMPLE MEANING:

Seen by Yahweh

Characteristics

OF MORIAH

Independent

Individualistic

Ambitious

Strong-willed

Inventive

Successful

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Moriah

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME MORIAH

Mt. Moriah is the place where the Bible tells us God called upon Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Abraham is instructed to take his son up the mountain, bind him on an altar and kill him. As they proceed up, the innocent Isaac asks his father where the sacrificial animal is, and Abraham replies that God will provide. As soon as Abraham is poised over his bound son, an angel of God appears and tells him to stop. Abraham’s faith and obedience have been tested and found whole. A ram is sighted in the nearby bushes and is substituted upon the altar as the sacrifice. Naturally, scholars and the common faithful alike have struggled with this Biblical tale for centuries. How could a loving God make such a demand, even if it is not carried through? How could a father willingly sacrifice his own son, even at the command of such a God? Many answers, some of them exceedingly forced and weak, have been proffered. Ultimately, perhaps it is simply a story foreshadowing the actuality of God’s sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus Christ, so many generations later. At any rate, since it had already been prophesized that Isaac would father the Jewish nation, we are glad he was spared in order to do so.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME MORIAH

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Moriah


Popular Songs

ON MORIAH

We cannot find any popular or well-known songs with the name of Moriah


Famous People

NAMED MORIAH

We cannot find any celebrities or significantly famous people with the first name Moriah.

Children of Famous People

NAMED MORIAH

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Moriah

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME MORIAH

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Moriah