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.