Michael
Michael is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Who is like God?
Origin and history
Michael is derived from the Hebrew name Mikha'el, meaning 'Who is like God?'. It was the number one most popular boys' name in the United States for nearly half a century and remains a highly influential staple. With millions of births recorded, it stands as one of the most classic and widely recognized male names in modern history.
Popularity in the United States
4,426,753 babies in the United States have been named Michael since 1880. It ranks #4 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #16.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10 %)
- CA (9.9 %)
- PA (6.2 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- TX (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 3,558 |
| 1890-1900 | 3,926 |
| 1900-1910 | 5,220 |
| 1910-1920 | 30,858 |
| 1920-1930 | 37,893 |
| 1930-1940 | 56,001 |
| 1940-1950 | 336,568 |
| 1950-1960 | 837,471 |
| 1960-1970 | 833,092 |
| 1970-1980 | 707,327 |
| 1980-1990 | 663,807 |
| 1990-2000 | 462,466 |
| 2000-2010 | 250,715 |
| 2010-2019 | 145,220 |
| 2020-2029 | 52,631 |
Famous people named Michael
- Michael Jordan: Athlete, Businessman
- Michael Jackson: Musician, Entertainer
- Michael J. Fox: Actor, Advocate
Nicknames
Mike, Mikey, Mick
Fun facts
- Michael held the #1 spot for baby boys in the United States every year from 1954 to 1998, with the exception of 1960.
- The name is rhetorical, framing the question 'Who is like God?' to emphasize divine supremacy.