Michael
Michael is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “who is like God.” It ranked #21 in the United States in 2025. From Hebrew 'Mikha'el,' meaning 'who is like God.'
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how do you pronounce Michael?
MY-kul
where does the name Michael come from?
From the Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el), which is a rhetorical question rather than a statement: mi, who, ke, like, and El, God — who is like God? The expected answer is no one, so the name is a declaration of God's incomparability disguised as an enquiry.
The Archangel Michael is the commander of God's armies in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, making Michael one of the most consistently popular names in Western history.
the history of Michael
Daniel calls Michael one of the chief princes and the protector of Israel; the title archangel is applied to him later, in the New Testament letter of Jude. Revelation places him at the head of the heavenly host against the dragon. That standing made the name ubiquitous across Christian Europe, and later across the Orthodox and Islamic worlds as Mikhail and Mika'il. It topped the American boys' charts almost without interruption from 1954 to 1998.
how popular is this name?
Michael has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #1 in 1954, and ranked #21 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #21 |
| 2024 | #18 |
| 2023 | #16 |
| 2022 | #16 |
| 2021 | #17 |
| 2020 | #12 |
| 2019 | #14 |
| 2018 | #14 |
| 2017 | #12 |
| 2016 | #8 |
| 2010 | #3 |
| 2000 | #2 |
| 1990 | #1 |
| 1980 | #1 |
| 1970 | #1 |
| 1960 | #2 |
| 1954 | #1 |
| 1950 | #4 |
| 1940 | #18 |
| 1930 | #54 |
| 1920 | #50 |
| 1910 | #45 |
| 1900 | #51 |
| 1890 | #48 |
| 1880 | #46 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Michael fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Michael?
- Michael Jordan (basketball player)
- Michael Jackson (musician)
- Michael B. Jordan (actor)
- Archangel Michael
what are the nicknames and variants of Michael?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Michael?
what names go well with Michael?
Sibling names that share Michael's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Michael
What does the name Michael mean?
Michael means “who is like God”.
What is the origin of the name Michael?
Michael comes from the Hebrew naming tradition. Related forms include Michel, Miguel, Michele and Mikhail.
How popular is the name Michael?
Michael ranked #21 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1954, at #1, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Michael a boy or girl name?
Michael is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Michael?
Michael is pronounced MY-kul, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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