Michael was first derived from the name Mikha’el, meaning “who is like God?” in Hebrew. This rhetorical question was posed to reiterate no person was like God.  In Hebrew tradition, Michael was one of the archangels. Michael is listed as the only archangel in the Bible, where he appears in the Old Testament’s Book of Daniel as a protector of Israel.  The saint’s popularity brought the name Michael to prominence centuries ago. Michael has been commonly used in Western Europe since the Middle Ages and in England since the 12th century.

The name Michael was commonly used for emperors, kings, and saints. Michael is an ever-popular name that has consistently ranked in the top-100 for boys over the past century. Michael enjoyed an unprecedented run in popularity in the U.S. from 1954 to 2008, often ranking in the first or second spot. The name stayed in the top 10 until 2017, when it ranked 12. In 2020, Michael also ranked as the 12th most popular name for boys in America. While the name is sometimes used for baby girls, it does not rank in the 1000 most frequently used names for girls.

Name Variations

As it is a biblical name, Michael has an equivalent in virtually every known language. These variations include:

Michel (French) Mikhail (Greek, Russian) Mihály (Hungarian) Mícheál (Gaelic) Michele (Italian) Michal (Polish) Miguel (Portuguese, Spanish) Mihail (Rumanian) Michiel (Dutch) Mikel (Swedish) Mihangel (Welsh) Mícheál (Irish) Miguel (Portuguese) Mikkel (Danish, Norweigian) Micheil (Gaelic)

Similar Names

Other boy names from the Old Testament:

Aaron Abraham Benjamin Daniel Elijah Ezra Jonathan Joshua Noah Samuel

Other boy names starting with M:

Malachi Marcus Mark Mario Mason Matthew Maverick Maxwell/Max Micah Miles Mitchell Morgan

Common Nicknames

Common nicknames for Michael include:

Mike: Suggests a robust and athletic persona, such as boxer Mike Tyson, or American television personality Mike Rowe. This shorthand version of Michael dates back to the 1800s and is a commonly used nickname for Michael.  Mikey: A lesser-used nickname with a more playful undertone. Many boys who are called Mikey will grow into the nickname Mike as they get older. This nickname was made popular in the 1970s when actor John Gilchrist played a young boy named Mikey in the Life cereal commercials. The beloved advertisements spawned the catchphrase, “Mikey Likes It.” 

Suggested Sibling Names

BenjaminGabrielMatthewThomasWilliamAmeliaCharlotteEmmaGraceLily

Famous People Named Michael

Notable Michaels in the U.S., like preacher Michael Blackwell and philanthropist Michael Drescher, represent the biblical Michael’s commitment to duty and leadership. The name Michael is also associated with distinguished American politicians such as Michael Dukakis, Michael Patrick Flanagan, and Michael Pence.

Famous Michaels:

Michael Bublé, Canadian singerMichael J. Fox, Canadian-American actorMichael Jordan, NBA basketball playerMichael Kors, American fashion designerMichael Palin, British comedianMichael Phelps, American swimmer

Famous Mikes:

Mike Ditka, NFL player, coach, and commentatorMike Meyers, Canadian actorMike Oliver, British sociologist and disability advocateMike Piazza, American baseball playerMike Tyson, American boxer

Famous Mikeys:

Mikey Ambrose, American soccer playerMikey Boyle, Irish hurlerMikey Chung, Jamaican musician and record producerMikey Craig, English musicianMikey Robins, Australian media personality, comedian, and writerMikey Walsh, British writer and LGBTQ activist

Fictional Michaels/Mikes/Mikeys:

Michael Meyers, HalloweenMichael Scott, The OfficeMike Seaver, Growing PainsMike Wheeler, Stranger ThingsLittle Mikey, Life cereal commercials

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