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

Popularity of Miguel by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,883 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Miguel.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Miguel in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Miguel

The name Miguel is of Spanish origin and derives from the Hebrew name Michael, which means "who is like God?" The name Miguel first emerged during the medieval period in Spain and Portugal. It has roots in the Aramaic name Mikha'el and the Hebrew name Miykah'el.

Miguel was a popular name among early Christians and Jews, as it was the name of the archangel Michael, who is mentioned in the Bible, the Quran, and other religious texts. In the Book of Daniel, Michael is referred to as a protector of Israel. The name was also associated with the military leader Michael the Archangel, who led the army of God against Satan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Miguel in historical records dates back to the 12th century. Miguel Arias, a Spanish nobleman and knight, was born around 1150 and served under King Alfonso VIII of Castile. Another notable figure from this era was Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), the renowned Spanish author best known for his novel Don Quixote.

During the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, the name Miguel became more widespread as Spanish explorers and conquistadors brought it to the Americas. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Miguel López de Legazpi (1502-1572), a Spanish navigator and explorer who led the expedition that established the first permanent Spanish settlement in the Philippines.

In the realm of art and literature, Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936) was a prominent Spanish philosopher, essayist, and novelist who played a significant role in the Spanish literary renaissance. Another well-known figure was Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753-1811), a Mexican Catholic priest and a leader of the Mexican War of Independence.

Other notable individuals with the name Miguel throughout history include Miguel de la Madrid (1934-2012), a Mexican politician who served as the President of Mexico from 1982 to 1988, and Miguel Ángel Asturias (1899-1974), a Guatemalan writer and diplomat who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1967.

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

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

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