Mordecai, of Hebrew origin, is a historic and traditional male given name that has been carried by figures throughout history. Derived from the Hebrew words "mor" meaning "myrrh" and "dakay" meaning "servant", it translates to "servant of Meroe". Meroe was an ancient kingdom in Sudan, and serving a god or deity was a significant aspect of ancient cultures, thus making Mordecai a name with divine connotations. It is often associated with wisdom and service, reflecting the revered status of its bearers throughout history.
The name Mordecai experienced a significant increase in popularity over the past century, with a dramatic spike starting around the year 2000. Before then, it maintained a steady but low number of births per year, ranging from 5 to 13 between 1912 and 1999. However, from 2000 onwards, there was a notable surge, with the number of annual Mordecai births more than doubling, reaching a peak of 99 in 2022. Overall, there were 1506 births named Mordecai between 1912 and 2023.