Moody

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Moody

Pronounced MOO-dee /ˈmuːdi/Medium

Meaning: Moody is a surname turned first name, from the Old English modig, 'bold', 'brave' or 'spirited', built on mod, 'mind' or 'courage'. Only later did the ordinary word 'moody' take on its sense of changeable temper; the original name praised a courageous, high-spirited person. As an American given name Moody belongs to the surname-as-forename fashion and carries that older, admiring 'bold' meaning.Medium

In 30 seconds: Moody is an English surname-name from a word meaning 'bold' or 'brave', used for American boys early last century (say MOO-dee).

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningMoody is a surname turned first name, from the Old English modig, 'bold', 'brave' or 'spirited', built on mod, 'mind' or 'courage'. Only later did the ordinary word 'moody' take on its sense of changeable temper; the original name praised a courageous, high-spirited person. As an American given name Moody belongs to the surname-as-forename fashion and carries that older, admiring 'bold' meaning.

U.S. rank (2023)#13517 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1922

Total births (all-time)≈ 746

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Moody comes from Old English modig, 'bold' or 'spirited', first a nickname for a brave person and then a surname. American families, especially in the South, handed it down as a first name, sometimes honouring the evangelist Dwight L. Moody, whose fame kept the name in the public ear. The old 'bold' sense sits behind the modern word's changed meaning.

Moody was always uncommon as a first name, drawing only a couple dozen boys a year even at its high around the nineteen-twenties. A boy named Moody then belongs to a great-grandfather's generation now. It reads as an old surname-name with a plain, courageous root rather than a nursery favourite, and it is seldom chosen today.

Did you know? The original sense of Moody was 'bold' or 'brave', from Old English modig, long before 'moody' meant changeable in temper.

Overall data confidence 55%

References - Moody — English surname-name; Old English modig 'bold/brave'

Variations

MoodieMudieMoudyMoody

Nicknames

Moo

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By themeenglish vintage surname-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Moody mean?

It comes from Old English modig, 'bold' or 'brave', long before the word 'moody' meant changeable in temper.

How do you pronounce Moody?

It's said MOO-dee /ˈmuːdi/, two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Moody a boy or girl name?

Moody is used as a boy's name.

Is Moody a popular name?

No, it has always been rare as a first name, a surname-name seen in small numbers in the early twentieth century.