Machel
A feminine name of French origin meaning "wished for child".
Name Census estimates that about 108 living Americans carry the first name Machel. It is a predominantly female name (92.2% of registrations). The average person named Machel today is around 59 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Machel births was 1962 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Machel. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
108
~ 1 in 3,173,651 Americans
Peak year
1962
13 babies that year
Average age
59
years old
1976 SSA rank
#6,138
Tracked since 1958
Gender
Gender distribution for Machel
Machel leans heavily female at 92.2% of total registrations, but 10 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Machel as a male name
- Ranked #6,138 in 1976
- 5 male births in 1976
- Peak: 1972 (5 births)
Machel as a female name
- Ranked #11,437 in 1984
- 5 female births in 1984
- Peak: 1962 (13 births)
Popularity
Machel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Machel from the 1950s through to the 1980s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 84 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Machel by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Machel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Machel
The name Machel is believed to have originated from the French language, with its roots traceable back to the late Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variation of the name Michel, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Michael, meaning "who is like God."
In the 13th century, the name Machel emerged as a diminutive form of Michel, possibly used as a nickname or affectionate variant. It gained popularity across various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central areas, where it was commonly found among the rural and urban populations alike.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Machel can be found in the chronicles of the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Martin de Tournai, dating back to the late 13th century. The chronicles mention a monk named Machel de Troyes, who was renowned for his scriptural knowledge and calligraphic skills.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Machel. One such figure was Machel de Bouillon (1410-1478), a renowned French theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Paris and served as the personal confessor to King Charles VII of France.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Machel de Vignolles (1588-1665), a French military engineer and architect who played a significant role in the design and construction of fortifications during the Thirty Years' War. His innovative defensive strategies and architectural designs were highly regarded throughout Europe.
In the realm of literature, Machel de Boisrobert (1592-1662) was a French poet and dramatist who gained recognition as a member of the illustrious Académie Française. His works, which included plays, satires, and poetic compositions, were celebrated for their wit and social commentary.
The name Machel also found its way into religious circles, with Machel de Cordes (1628-1701), a French Capuchin friar and theologian, leaving a lasting impact through his scholarly writings on theology and moral philosophy.
Another notable figure was Machel de Lassus (1766-1835), a French diplomat and statesman who served as the ambassador to several European courts and played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and fostering international relations during the turbulent years following the French Revolution.
While the name Machel has seen a decline in popularity in recent times, it remains an intriguing link to the rich cultural heritage of France, carrying within it echoes of a storied past and the lives of remarkable individuals who have left an indelible mark on history.
People
Machel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Machel as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Machel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Machel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 108 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Machel going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 3,173,651 US residents.
Is Machel a common name?
We classify Machel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 128 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Machel most popular?
The single biggest year for Machel was 1962, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Machel is about 59 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Machel a female name?
Yes, 92.2% of people registered as Machel in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.