Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Mike
BoyEnglish, Hebrew· “who is like God?”
- Meaning
- who is like God?
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- MYK
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,234
- US babies 2025
- 163
- Best rank
- #36 (1960)
- Peak year
- 1960
Meaning and origin of Mike
Mike is an English and Hebrew name that means “who is like God?”.
Mike is the familiar short form of Michael, a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God?", a question implying that no one is equal to God. In the Bible, Michael is an archangel, honored as a protector in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. Mike became a standard nickname in the English-speaking world and was sometimes given on its own, especially in the twentieth century. It has an easygoing, all-American friendliness. Parents today often put Michael on the birth certificate and use Mike or Mikey day to day.
Popularity over time
Mike 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 136 different years. Its best national rank was #36 in 1960, the same year it reached its highest count of 12,045 babies. In 2025, 163 babies were named Mike, and it ranked #1,234 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #141 in 1920, #113 in 1950, #402 in 1980, #601 in 2000, #871 in 2010, and #1,234 in 2025. Of the 205,861 US boys named Mike since records began, 35% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 48,345 babies. Since 2010, 3,261 more have been named Mike.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Steve, Craig, Jeff, Tony, and Russell.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Mike ranked highest in Florida, New Jersey, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | #525 | 34 |
| New Jersey | #684 | 10 |
| New York | #706 | 21 |
| North Carolina | #993 | 8 |
| Michigan | #1216 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Mike is usually pronounced MYK, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with M and ends in “-ke”.
Middle names for Mike
A few middle names that flow with Mike: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Mike
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Lists that include Mike
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mike mean?
Mike is an English and Hebrew name that means “who is like God?”.
What is the origin of the name Mike?
Mike has English and Hebrew roots. Mike is the familiar short form of Michael, a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God?", a question implying that no one is equal to God.
Is Mike a popular name?
Not especially. Mike ranked #1,234 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Mike a boy or girl name?
Mike is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Mike?
Mike is usually pronounced MYK. 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