Mishell
A feminine variation of the masculine name Michael, of Hebrew derivation meaning "who is like God?".
Name Census estimates that about 482 living Americans carry the first name Mishell. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Mishell today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mishell births was 2002 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mishell. 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.
People living today
482
~ 1 in 711,109 Americans
Peak year
2002
17 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,776
Tracked since 1957
Popularity
Mishell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mishell from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 134 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mishell 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 Mishell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mishells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Mishell
The name Mishell is a unique and intriguing moniker that has its roots in multiple cultures and languages. Its origins can be traced back to the Hebrew name Mishael, which means "who is what God is?" or "one who is equal to God." This name is found in the Book of Daniel, where it is mentioned as the Babylonian name given to the prophet Mishael.
Another possible origin of the name Mishell is the Spanish name Miguel, derived from the Hebrew name Michael, meaning "who is like God?" This name has been popular in Spanish-speaking cultures for centuries and may have influenced the spelling variation of Mishell.
In ancient times, the name Mishell was not widely recorded or documented. However, there are a few notable historical figures who bore this name or variations of it. One such person was Mishell de Bures, a 13th-century French noblewoman and landowner who played a role in the political affairs of her time.
Moving forward in history, we find Mishell Deynes, a 16th-century English woman who was a prominent figure in the court of King Henry VIII. She served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon and later became a confidante of Anne Boleyn.
In the 17th century, Mishell Dutoit was a French painter known for her still-life paintings and portraits. She was a member of the prestigious Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture and her works can be found in various European art collections.
Jumping to the 19th century, Mishell Bouvier was a French author and feminist who wrote extensively on women's rights and education. She was a pioneer in the early feminist movement and her works helped pave the way for future generations of women activists.
Another notable figure from the 19th century was Mishell Loring, an American educator and writer. She was a strong advocate for women's education and founded several schools and institutions dedicated to providing quality education for young women.
While the name Mishell may not have been as widespread as some other names throughout history, it has been borne by a diverse array of individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from art and literature to politics and education. The name's unique spelling and cross-cultural origins make it a fascinating moniker with a rich tapestry of historical significance.
People
Mishell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mishell 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
Mishell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mishell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 482 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mishell 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 711,109 US residents.
Is Mishell a common name?
We classify Mishell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 511 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mishell most popular?
The single biggest year for Mishell was 2002, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mishell is about 32 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mishell a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mishell 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.
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.