Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Miguel
BoySpanish, Hebrew· “who is like God?”
- Meaning
- who is like God?
- Origin
- Spanish, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- mee-GEHL
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #212
- US babies 2025
- 1,661
- Best rank
- #86 (2000)
- Peak year
- 2007
Meaning and origin of Miguel
Miguel is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “who is like God?”.
Miguel is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Michael, from the Hebrew Mikha'el, a rhetorical question meaning "who is like God?". In the Bible, Michael is the archangel who leads the heavenly armies, and his veneration spread the name throughout the Christian world. Famous bearers include Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, and Miguel Hidalgo, a leading figure in Mexico's independence movement. Miguel has long been a staple across Spain, Portugal and Latin America, and it is widely used in the United States. It sounds warm and classic, and it crosses languages easily.
Popularity over time
Miguel 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 144 different years. Its best national rank was #86 in 2000, and the most babies received it in 2007, when 4,906 were named Miguel. In 2025, 1,661 babies were named Miguel, and it ranked #212 nationally. That is 35% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #547 in 1920, #324 in 1950, #128 in 1980, #86 in 2000, #113 in 2010, and #212 in 2025. Of the 190,566 US boys named Miguel since records began, 24% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 41,009 babies. Since 2010, 38,473 more have been named Miguel.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Brady, Caden, Kaden, Tristan, and Kaleb.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Miguel ranked highest in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #84 | 22 |
| Texas | #113 | 352 |
| Arizona | #113 | 74 |
| California | #119 | 334 |
| Massachusetts | #164 | 41 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Miguel is usually pronounced mee-GEHL, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with M and ends in “-el”.
Middle names for Miguel
A few middle names that flow with Miguel: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Miguel
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Lists that include Miguel
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Miguel mean?
Miguel is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “who is like God?”.
What is the origin of the name Miguel?
Miguel has Spanish and Hebrew roots. Miguel is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Michael, from the Hebrew Mikha'el, a rhetorical question meaning "who is like God?".
Is Miguel a popular name?
Yes. Miguel ranked #212 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Miguel a boy or girl name?
Miguel is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Miguel?
Miguel is usually pronounced mee-GEHL. 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