Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Michael
BoyHebrew· “who is like God?”
- Meaning
- who is like God?
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- MY-kuhl
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #21
- US babies 2025
- 8,094
- Best rank
- #1 (1954)
- Peak year
- 1957
Meaning and origin of Michael
Michael is a Hebrew name that means “who is like God?”.
Michael comes from the Hebrew Mikha'el, a rhetorical question meaning "who is like God?". In the Bible, Michael is an archangel who appears in the books of Daniel, Jude and Revelation, where he leads the heavenly armies. Veneration of Saint Michael spread across medieval Europe, leaving landmarks such as Mont-Saint-Michel in France. The name has equivalents in almost every European language, including Miguel, Michel, Mikhail and Michele. In the United States it was an extremely common boy's name through much of the twentieth century. Michael feels solid and familiar, with Mike, Mikey and Mick as nicknames, and it works equally well as a first or middle name.
Other spellings with the same sound: Micheal.
Popularity over time
Michael has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #1 in 1954, and the most babies received it in 1957, when 92,781 were named Michael. In 2025, 8,094 babies were named Michael, and it ranked #21 nationally. That is 44% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #50 in 1920, #4 in 1950, #1 in 1980, #2 in 2000, #3 in 2010, and #21 in 2025. Of the 4,426,753 US boys named Michael since records began, 19% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 833,092 babies. Since 2010, 197,851 more have been named Michael.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Steven and Joseph.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Michael ranked highest in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #7 | 343 |
| Pennsylvania | #10 | 385 |
| Maryland | #12 | 151 |
| New York | #13 | 604 |
| Mississippi | #13 | 75 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Michael is usually pronounced MY-kuhl, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with M and ends in “-el”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Micheal.
Middle names for Michael
A few middle names that flow with Michael: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Michael
Similar names
Miguel Boy
mee-GEHL
“who is like God?” · Spanish
#212
Rafael Boy
rah-fy-EHL
“God has healed” · Hebrew
#218
Uriel Boy
YOOR-ee-ehl
“God is my light” · Hebrew
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Daniel Boy
DAN-yuhl
“God is my judge” · Hebrew
#22
Joseph Boy
JOH-suhf
“he will add” · Hebrew
#29
David Boy
DAY-vihd
“beloved” · Hebrew
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Samuel Boy
SAM-yoo-uhl
“God has heard” · Hebrew
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Gabriel Boy
GAY-bree-uhl
“God is my strength” · Hebrew
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Axel Boy
AK-suhl
“father of peace” · Scandinavian
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Adriel Boy
AY-dree-el
“flock of God” · Hebrew
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Michel Unisex
mee-SHEHL
“French form of Michael: who is like God?” · French
#4,642
Matthew Boy
MATH-yoo
“gift of Yahweh” · Hebrew
#32
Lists that include Michael
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Michael mean?
Michael is a Hebrew name that means “who is like God?”.
What is the origin of the name Michael?
Michael has Hebrew roots. Michael comes from the Hebrew Mikha'el, a rhetorical question meaning "who is like God?".
Is Michael a popular name?
Yes. Michael ranked #21 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Michael a boy or girl name?
Michael is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Michael?
Michael is usually pronounced MY-kuhl. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings