Michelle
Michelle is a girl's name of French origin.
Meaning
Who is like God?
Origin and history
Michelle is the French feminine form of Michel, derived from the Hebrew name Michael. It surged in popularity in the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century, becoming one of the top female names of that era. Though less common for newborns today, it remains a familiar classic.
Popularity in the United States
816,510 babies in the United States have been named Michelle since 1880. It ranks #25 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #391.
States where it is most popular
- CA (14.1 %)
- NY (8.5 %)
- TX (6 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- OH (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 17 |
| 1920-1930 | 97 |
| 1930-1940 | 293 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,693 |
| 1950-1960 | 46,779 |
| 1960-1970 | 208,293 |
| 1970-1980 | 249,130 |
| 1980-1990 | 154,027 |
| 1990-2000 | 86,532 |
| 2000-2010 | 43,540 |
| 2010-2019 | 17,358 |
| 2020-2029 | 4,751 |
Famous people named Michelle
- Michelle Obama: First Lady, Author
- Michelle Yeoh: Actress
- Michelle Pfeiffer: Actress
Nicknames
Chelle, Shelly, Mimi
Fun facts
- The Beatles released the hit ballad 'Michelle' in 1965, which helped cement the name's international popularity.
- Michelle ranked among the top ten most popular female names in the U.S. for over two decades starting in the late 1960s.