Baby Names Boy Names What Is the Meaning of the Name Michael? Learn more about the origin, popularity, and meaning of the name Michael. By Renee Plant Published on April 16, 2024 Fact checked by Karen Cilli In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Michael? Name Variations Similar Names Common Nicknames for Michael Suggested Sibling Names Famous People Named Michael Close Are you searching for a classic, refined name for your baby boy? Michael is a strong option to consider. Michael was first derived from the name Mikha’el, meaning “who is like God?” in Hebrew. This rhetorical question was posed to reiterate the belief that no person was fully like God. In Hebrew tradition, Michael was one of the archangels. Michael is listed as the only archangel (the highest form of the angels) in the Bible, where he appears in the Old Testament’s Book of Daniel as a protector of Israel. The archangel Michael is also considered a saint in the Catholic Church and is said to have led the battle against Lucifer when he rebelled against God. The saint’s popularity brought the name Michael to prominence centuries ago. Michael has been commonly used in Western Europe since the Middle Ages and in England since the 12th century. Origin: The name Michael is of Hebrew origin and means “who is like God?” or “gift from God.” It is found in the Old Testament, notably in the Book of Daniel.Gender: Michael is historically the masculine form of the name. Feminine variations, such as Michelle, Michaela, or Mila, are common.Pronunciation: mye-kehl Editor's Note Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes and acknowledges that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best. Westend61 / Getty Images How Popular Is the Name Michael? The name Michael was commonly used for emperors, kings, and saints. Michael is an ever-popular name that has consistently ranked in the top 100 for boys over the past century. Michael enjoyed an unprecedented run in popularity in the US from 1954 to 2008, often ranking in the first or second spot. The name stayed in the top 10 until 2017 when it ranked 12. In 2022, Michael ranked as the 16th most popular name for boys in America. While the name is sometimes used for baby girls, it does not rank in the 1,000 most frequently used names for girls. Name Variations As it is a biblical name, Michael has an equivalent in virtually every known language. These variations include: Michel (French) Mikhail (Greek, Russian) Mihály (Hungarian) Mícheál (Gaelic) Michele (Italian) Michal (Polish) Miguel (Portuguese, Spanish) Mihail (Romanian) Michiel (Dutch) Mikel (Swedish) Mihangel (Welsh) Mícheál (Irish) Miguel (Portuguese) Mikkel (Danish, Norweigian) Micheil (Gaelic) Similar Names Michael is a name with strong roots in religious scripture. Here are other boy names from the Old Testament: AaronAbrahamBenjaminDanielElijahEzraJonathanJoshuaNoahSamuel Other boy names starting with M include: MalachiMarcusMarkMarioMasonMatthewMaverickMaxwell/MaxMicahMilesMitchellMorgan 35 Baby Names That Start With the Letter "M" Common Nicknames for Michael Common nicknames for Michael include: Mike: Suggests a robust and athletic persona, such as boxer Mike Tyson or American television personality Mike Rowe. This shorthand version of Michael dates back to the 1800s and is a commonly used nickname for Michael. Mikey: A lesser-used nickname with a more playful undertone. Many boys who are called Mikey will grow into the nickname Mike as they get older. This nickname was made popular in the 1970s when actor John Gilchrist played a young boy named Mikey in the Life cereal commercials. The beloved advertisements spawned the catchphrase, “Mikey Likes It.” Suggested Sibling Names BenjaminGabrielMatthewThomasWilliamAmeliaCharlotteEmmaGraceLily Famous People Named Michael Notable Michaels in the US, like preacher Michael Blackwell and philanthropist Michael Drescher, represent the biblical Michael’s commitment to duty and leadership. The name Michael is also associated with distinguished American politicians such as Michael Dukakis, Michael Patrick Flanagan, and Michael Pence. Famous Michaels Michael Bublé, Canadian singerMichael J. Fox, Canadian-American actorMichael Jordan, retired NBA basketball playerMichael Kors, American fashion designerMichael Palin, British comedianMichael Phelps, retired American Olympic swimmer Famous Mikes Mike Ditka, retired NFL player, coach, and commentatorMike Meyers, Canadian actorMike Oliver, British sociologist and disability advocateMike Piazza, retired American baseball playerMike Tyson, retired American boxer Famous Mikeys Mikey Ambrose, retired American soccer playerMikey Boyle, Irish hurlerMikey Chung, Jamaican musician and record producerMikey Craig, English musicianMikey Robins, Australian media personality, comedian, and writerMikey Walsh, British writer and LGBTQ+ activist Fictional Michaels, Mikes, & Mikeys Michael Meyers, HalloweenMichael Scott, The OfficeMike Seaver, Growing PainsMike Wheeler, Stranger ThingsLittle Mikey, Life cereal commercials More Baby Names Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names 45 Gender-Neutral Baby Names 275 Popular Baby Names for Twins Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Michael name meaning. Abarim Publications. n.d. Sts. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Archangels. Catholic News Agency. n.d. Top 10 Baby Names of 2022. Social Security Administration. n.d.