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Home › Baby Names Directory › Michael

Michael

♀ Girl

Pronounced MY-kul /ˈmaɪ.kəl/High

Meaning: From Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?' (a rhetorical question implying none is); the archangel Michael; overwhelmingly a boys' name; here for girls; flaggedLow

In 30 seconds: Who is like God?: Michael is Hebrew. Lyrical, classic, and warm. Overwhelmingly a boys' name (here for girls; said 'MY-kul').
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Origin LowHebrew
MeaningFrom Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?' (a rhetorical question implying none is); the archangel Michael; overwhelmingly a boys' name; here for girls; flagged
U.S. rank (2024)#7450 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births15 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1986
Total births (all-time)≈ 21,865

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198618972024

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Michael comes from Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?' (a rhetorical question implying none is) — the archangel Michael. It is overwhelmingly a boys' name; here it is used for a girl (slug distinguished; we flag the cross-sex use; the feminine forms are Michaela/Michelle). A lyrical, classic name (said 'MY-kul').

In the U.S. it is overwhelmingly a boys' name. Rare for girls, who-is-like-God at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Michael means 'who is like God?' in Hebrew (the archangel Michael) — overwhelmingly a boys' name, used here for a girl (we flag the cross-sex use; the feminine forms are Michaela/Michelle; said 'MY-kul').
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Michael — overwhelmingly boys'; here girls'

Variations

MichaelaMichelleMikayla

Nicknames

Mickie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Michael…

Michaela— the standard feminine form
Michelle— a fellow feminine form
Mikayla— a kin feminine spelling
Micah— a sound-neighbor Mic- name

Explore names like Michael

By themeuncertainhebrewunisex
By meaningGod / Divine

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Michael mean?

Michael is Hebrew for 'who is like God?' (the archangel); overwhelmingly a boys' name, used here for a girl.

How do you pronounce Michael?

It's said MY-kul /ˈmaɪ.kəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Michael a boy or girl name?

Michael is overwhelmingly a boys' name; this page covers its rarer use as a girl's name (feminine forms: Michaela, Michelle).

How popular is Michael?

Michael is very rare as a girl's name in the U.S.

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