Find out how popular the first name Michael has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Michael by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Michael is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Michael being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8,383 male babies and 20 female babies born with the name Michael.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 20 baby girls were named Michael in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Michael

The name Michael has its origins in the Hebrew name Mikhael, which means "Who is like God?" It is derived from the rhetorical question "Mi ka'El," with "Mi" meaning "Who" and "El" referring to God. The name dates back to ancient biblical times and appears in the Old Testament as the name of an archangel.

Michael is a prominent name in various Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Bible, Michael is depicted as the leader of the heavenly armies and plays a significant role in the Book of Revelation. The archangel Michael is also mentioned in the Quran, where he is revered as one of the most powerful angels.

The name Michael gained widespread popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe. It was a common name among royalty and nobility, and many historical figures bore this name. One of the earliest recorded examples is Michael III, who ruled as the Byzantine Emperor from 842 to 867 CE.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Michael. In the 11th century, Michael I Cerularius was the Patriarch of Constantinople and played a pivotal role in the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Christian churches. Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was a renowned English scientist whose groundbreaking work in electromagnetism laid the foundations for the modern understanding of electricity.

In the realm of literature, Michael Nyman (born 1944) is a celebrated English composer known for his minimalist style and film scores. Michael Crichton (1942-2008) was an American author famous for his science fiction novels, including "Jurassic Park" and "The Andromeda Strain."

Another famous Michael is Michael Jordan (born 1963), widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His remarkable career with the Chicago Bulls and his impact on the sport have made him an iconic figure in sports history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Michael was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Michael, please contact us.

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