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

Popularity of Mickey by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Mickey is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 90% of people named Mickey being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 86 male babies and 13 female babies born with the name Mickey.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 13 baby girls were named Mickey in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Mickey

Mickey is a diminutive form of the name Michael, which derives from the Hebrew name Mikhael. The name Mikhael is composed of two elements: "mi" meaning "who" and "kha'el" meaning "is like God". Thus, the original meaning of the name is "who is like God".

The name Michael first appeared in the Bible, where it referred to an archangel. It later became a popular name among Christians and Jews due to its religious significance. The shortened form Mickey emerged as a nickname for Michael in English-speaking countries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mickey was in the 13th century, when it appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, England. The name referred to a man named Mickey de Caerwent.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Mickey. One of the most famous was Mickey Mantle, an American professional baseball player who played for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1968. He was born in 1931 and passed away in 1995.

Another well-known Mickey was Mickey Rooney, an American actor who had a career spanning nearly a century. He was born in 1920 and died in 2014.

In the world of music, Mickey Hart is a renowned American percussionist and drummer, best known as a member of the Grateful Dead. He was born in 1943 and is still active in the music industry.

Mickey Spillane was an American crime novelist who created the popular detective character Mike Hammer. He was born in 1918 and died in 2006.

Lastly, Mickey Thompson was an American racing driver, motorsports entrepreneur, and pioneer in the field of automotive aftermarket accessories. He was born in 1928 and tragically murdered in 1988.

While these are just a few examples, the name Mickey has been used throughout history by individuals from various fields and backgrounds, reflecting its enduring popularity as a diminutive form of the name Michael.

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 Mickey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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