Mozel
An English surname derived from the German word "Mosel," referring to the Moselle river.
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Mozel. It is a predominantly female name (97.8% of registrations). The average person named Mozel today is around 96 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mozel births was 1929 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mozel. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Mozel is about 96 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Mozels were born before 1940.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mozel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1929
17 babies that year
Average age
96
years old
1925 SSA rank
#4,545
Tracked since 1899
Gender
Gender distribution for Mozel
Mozel leans heavily female at 97.8% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Mozel as a male name
- Ranked #4,688 in 1925
- 5 male births in 1925
- Peak: 1925 (5 births)
Mozel as a female name
- Ranked #4,545 in 1943
- 6 female births in 1943
- Peak: 1929 (17 births)
Popularity
Mozel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mozel from the 1890s through to the 1940s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 106 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mozel by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Mozel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mozels live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Mozel, while North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Mozel
The name Mozel is believed to have originated from the Germanic language family, specifically the Old High German word "muosal," which translates to "meal" or "nourishment." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with concepts of sustenance or abundance.
While the precise origins of the name remain uncertain, some scholars trace its roots back to the 8th or 9th century AD, when it was likely used among Germanic tribes in central Europe. Over time, various spellings and variations of the name emerged, such as Mozell, Moselle, and Mözel.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mozel can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the former Kingdom of Saxony, dated around the 11th century. This suggests that the name was in use during the medieval period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mozel. One of the earliest known figures was Mozel of Worms (c. 1020 - 1096), a Jewish scholar and rabbi who lived in the Holy Roman Empire. He was renowned for his contributions to the study of Talmudic literature.
Another prominent figure was Mozel von Kronenberg (1365 - 1438), a German knight and military commander who fought in the Hussite Wars during the 15th century. His bravery and leadership on the battlefield earned him a reputation as a skilled tactician.
In the realm of arts and literature, Mozel Greenberg (1878 - 1953) was a notable Russian-American painter and illustrator, known for her vibrant depictions of Jewish life and culture in the early 20th century.
The name Mozel also appeared in religious contexts, such as Mozel ben Shalom (c. 1450 - 1520), a Spanish Talmudist and scholar who lived during the time of the Spanish Inquisition and was forced to flee Spain due to persecution.
Finally, Mozel Tanner (1892 - 1981) was an American educator and civil rights activist who played a significant role in desegregating schools in Kansas City, Missouri, and advocating for equal educational opportunities for African American students.
These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the name Mozel throughout history, spanning various fields and time periods.
People
Mozel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mozel as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Mozel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mozel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mozel going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Mozel a common name?
We classify Mozel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 228 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mozel most popular?
The single biggest year for Mozel was 1929, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mozel is about 96 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Mozel in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Mozel a female name?
Yes, 97.8% of people registered as Mozel in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Mozel still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Mozel in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Mozel can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Mozel as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Mozel on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.