Michael
Michael is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Who is like God?
Origin and history
Michael is a traditional name derived from the Hebrew element Mikha'el, meaning 'Who is like God?'. While historically and predominantly given to boys, it has maintained a continuous history of feminine usage in the United States. It offers a classic, strong option when used as a female name.
Popularity in the United States
21,880 babies in the United States have been named Michael since 1880. It ranks #999 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1982.
States where it is most popular
- CA (14.1 %)
- NY (10.3 %)
- TX (8.3 %)
- IL (5.7 %)
- OH (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 7 |
| 1900-1910 | 12 |
| 1910-1920 | 150 |
| 1920-1930 | 303 |
| 1930-1940 | 384 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,547 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,313 |
| 1960-1970 | 3,679 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,075 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,202 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,934 |
| 2000-2010 | 824 |
| 2010-2019 | 331 |
| 2020-2029 | 119 |
Famous people named Michael
- Michael Learned: Actress
- Michael Michele: Actress
Nicknames
Mike, Mikey, Mick
Fun facts
- Michael has been recorded as a female name in the U.S. every year since tracking began, with over 21,000 female births on record.
- The name originates as a rhetorical question in Hebrew, implying that no one is equal to God.