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Michael

♂ Boy

Pronounced MY-kul /ˈmaɪ.kəl/High

Meaning: Who is like God? (rhetorical: no one is like God)High

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew rhetorical question 'who is like God?' — implying no one compares to the divine. Michael was the #1 U.S. boys' name for decades and is borne by the archangel.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningWho is like God? (rhetorical: no one is like God)
Peak year1957
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,350,824

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195718802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Michael comes from the Hebrew Mikha'el (מִיכָאֵל), a rhetorical question meaning 'who is like God?' — implying that no one is comparable to the divine. It is the name of one of the principal archangels in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic tradition, the leader of the heavenly armies.

The name has been used throughout the Christian world since early church history. In the United States it ranked #1 on the boys' chart for nearly 50 years during the 20th century, from 1954 to 1998 (with brief interruptions), giving it unmatched modern dominance. It remains in the top 20.

Did you know? Michael the Archangel appears in the Hebrew Bible (Daniel), the New Testament (Revelation), and the Quran, making this one of the few names revered across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Variations

MikhailMiguelMicheleMichelMichalMikey

Nicknames

MikeMikeyMickMickey

Famous Bearers

  • ★Michael Jordan (1963–)
    American basketball player, widely considered the greatest of all time.
  • ★Michael Jackson (1958–2009)
    American entertainer, 'King of Pop,' one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
  • ★Michelangelo (1475–1564)
    Italian Renaissance sculptor and painter, creator of David and the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

If you like Michael…

Daniel— fellow biblical Hebrew classic dominating 20th-century charts
David— shares the decades-long top-10 reign in the U.S.
James— equally timeless, never-out-of-fashion biblical classic
Matthew— another apostle-name with the same mid-century dominance
Christopher— shares the same era of peak U.S. popularity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Michael mean?

Michael comes from the Hebrew Mikha'el, a rhetorical question meaning 'who is like God?' — implying the answer is no one.

How do you pronounce Michael?

Michael is said MY-kul /ˈmaɪ.kəl/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Michael a boy or girl name?

Michael is primarily a boy's name; the feminine form is Michaela or Michelle.

How popular is Michael?

Michael was the #1 U.S. boys' name for the majority of the period from 1954 to 1998, an unmatched feat in modern naming history.