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Mahsa
Pronounced MAH-sah /ΛmΙ.sΙ/High
Meaning: Like the moon, moon-like; from Persian mah, 'moon', with the suffix -sa, 'like'High
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Mahsa joins Persian mah, 'moon', with the suffix -sa, 'like, resembling' β 'moon-like', the classical Persian ideal of beauty also heard in Mahnaz and Mahtab. It has been a common Iranian girls' name for decades.
The world learned it through Mahsa Amini, the young woman whose death in Iranian custody in 2022 ignited the Woman, Life, Freedom protests; her name became a global rallying cry. In the U.S. the name remains rare, carried by Iranian-American families with particular weight and pride.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- β
Mahsa Amini (1999β2022)Iranian Kurdish woman whose death in custody sparked the worldwide Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Mahsa mean?
Mahsa is Persian for 'like the moon', from mah, 'moon', and -sa, 'resembling'.
How do you pronounce Mahsa?
It's said MAH-sah /ΛmΙ.sΙ/ β two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Mahsa a boy or girl name?
Mahsa is a girl's name.
How popular is Mahsa?
Mahsa is rare in the U.S. and a familiar name in Iran.