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Home › Baby Names Directory › Misha

Misha

♂ Boy

Pronounced MEE-shah /ˈmi.ʃɑ/Medium

Meaning: Russian pet form of Mikhail (Michael) — from Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?'; here for boysMedium

In 30 seconds: Who is like God?: Misha pets the Russian Michael — the archangel. Soft, warm, and beloved (said 'MEE-shah').
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Origin MediumHebrew, Russian
MeaningRussian pet form of Mikhail (Michael) — from Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?'; here for boys
U.S. rank (2025)#7516 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births11 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 603

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202119682025

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

Misha is a Russian pet form of Mikhail (Michael) — from Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?' (the archangel). A soft, warm, beloved name across Russia (Mikhail 'Misha' Baryshnikov; the Moscow Olympics bear); used affectionately for boys (and sometimes girls elsewhere); said 'MEE-shah'.

In the U.S. it appears in Russian families. Rare, who-is-like-God at the root, and warm.

Did you know? Michael means 'who is like God?' (the archangel) — Misha is its beloved Russian pet form (dancer Mikhail 'Misha' Baryshnikov; the 1980 Moscow Olympics mascot), used affectionately for boys.
Overall data confidence 75%
Behind the Name — Misha — Russian pet form

Variations

MikhailMichaelMischa

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Misha…

Mikhail— the full Russian name
Michael— the English form
Sasha— a fellow Russian pet name
Micha— lands in the same popularity range
Simcha— shares the -ha ending

Explore names like Misha

By themehebrewnickname-namerussianangelic
By meaningGod / Divine

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Misha mean?

Misha is the Russian pet form of Michael — 'who is like God?'.

How do you pronounce Misha?

It's said MEE-shah /ˈmi.ʃɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Misha a boy or girl name?

Misha is a boy's name in Russian (used for girls elsewhere); this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Misha?

Misha is a rare name in the U.S.

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