Michonne
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly derived from the French word "chonette".
Name Census estimates that about 22 living Americans carry the first name Michonne. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Michonne today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Michonne births was 2018 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Michonne. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Michonne. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
22
~ 1 in 15,579,743 Americans
Peak year
2018
7 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2018 SSA rank
#13,364
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Michonne: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Michonne from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 17 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Michonne 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 Michonne 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 Michonne
The name Michonne is a unique and intriguing one with a rich cultural heritage. It is believed to have its roots in the West African language of Yoruba, which is predominantly spoken in present-day Nigeria. In Yoruba, the name Michonne is thought to be derived from the word "Omi-shon," which translates to "child of the water."
This connection to water suggests that the name may have held significant meaning for the Yoruba people, who traditionally revered the elements of nature and viewed water as a sacred and life-giving force. It is possible that the name was bestowed upon children born near bodies of water or during rainy seasons, as a way to honor the water's nurturing qualities.
While the name's origins can be traced back to West Africa, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world over the centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Michonne can be found in the writings of the 17th-century French explorer and writer, Jean-Baptiste Labat. In his accounts of his travels to the Caribbean, Labat mentions encountering a young woman named Michonne among the enslaved populations.
Throughout history, there have been a handful of notable individuals who have borne the name Michonne. One such figure was Michonne Duclos (1733-1794), a French courtesan and author who gained fame for her literary works and her involvement in the salons of Enlightenment-era Paris. Another was Michonne Bernardin (1890-1976), a renowned Haitian dancer and choreographer who played a significant role in popularizing Haitian folk dances on the international stage.
In the realm of literature, the name Michonne has been immortalized in the works of several writers. One notable example is the character of Michonne from the popular comic book series "The Walking Dead," created by Robert Kirkman. Her fierce and resilient portrayal in the post-apocalyptic world has garnered a dedicated fan following.
Moving into the 20th century, Michonne Bourriague (1915-2005) was a French Resistance fighter during World War II, known for her bravery and commitment to the cause of liberation. In the artistic realm, Michonne Bordeaux (1942-2019) was a celebrated Haitian painter whose vibrant works captured the essence of her Caribbean homeland.
Throughout its history, the name Michonne has embodied a sense of strength, resilience, and a connection to the natural world. While its origins may be rooted in the languages and cultures of West Africa, it has transcended geographical boundaries and found a place in various societies, embodied by individuals who have left their mark on history through their achievements and contributions.
People
Michonne + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Michonne 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
Michonne: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Michonne?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 22 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Michonne 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 15,579,743 US residents.
Is Michonne a common name?
We classify Michonne as "Very Rare". It ranks above 41.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 23 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Michonne most popular?
The single biggest year for Michonne was 2018, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Michonne is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Michonne in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Michonne a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Michonne 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.
Is Michonne still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Michonne in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Michonne can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Michonne?
Want to know how many people have the name Michonne? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.