Boy name · Hebrew
Michael
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: who is like God?Michael is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God?". It is used in English, Irish, German and Hebrew.
- Meaning
- Who is like God?
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #21 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Michael
As a boy's name, Michael comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God?". It is used in English, Irish, German and Hebrew.
Michael is also a surname: the 909th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 37,760 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Michael on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Michael on 6 lists.
“Who is like God? Hebrew. The archangel who leads heaven's armies”
From Angelic names, archangel names for boys
“Who is like God? Hebrew. Angel in Daniel, Jude and Revelation”
From Biblical names, biblical names for boys
“Who is like God? Hebrew. Familiar and flows with short first names”
From Boy middle names, classic boy middle names
“Who is like God?; Hebrew. The archangel's name”
From Classic boy names, timeless boy names
“Who is like God? Hebrew. Germans say MIKH-ah-el”
From German boy names, biblical and saints' names in German
“Who is like God; Hebrew, the warrior archangel”
From Strong boy names, strong biblical boy names
How popular is Michael?
- US rank in 2025
- #21
- 8,094 babies, 4,739 per million boys
- Best rank
- #1 in 1954
- Most babies: 92,781 in 1957
- Babies since 1880
- At least 4,426,753
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 3,248 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 3,441 per million |
| 1900s | 3,845 per million |
| 1910s | 4,623 per million |
| 1920s | 3,439 per million |
| 1930s | 5,300 per million |
| 1940s | 22,608 per million |
| 1950s | 41,424 per million |
| 1960s | 43,249 per million |
| 1970s | 42,826 per million |
| 1980s | 35,961 per million |
| 1990s | 23,741 per million |
| 2000s | 12,561 per million |
| 2010s | 7,723 per million |
| 2020s | 5,079 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8 | #12 | #14 | #14 | #12 | #17 | #16 | #16 | #18 | #21 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Nicknames for Michael
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Mikecommon English nickname
- Mikeycommon English nickname
- Mickthe vowel changes: Michael, Mick
- MickeyMick + -ey
Other forms of Michael
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- MichailWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MichałWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MichalisWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MícheálWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MichelWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MicheleWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MichielWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MickaëlWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MiguelWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MikaelWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MikailWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MikalaWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Michael
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- MikhailWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MisaelWho is what God is (Hebrew, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- MicaelaWho is like God? (Hebrew, girl)
- MichelleWho is like God (Hebrew, girl)
- MicahWho is like Yahweh? (Hebrew, boy)
- MichaelaWho is like God? (Hebrew, girl)
- MikaelaWho is like God? (Hebrew, girl)
- AkulinaLike an eagle (Latin, girl)
- AyçaLike the moon (Turkish, girl)
- CassiaCassia, a cinnamon-like spice tree (Greek, girl)
- JaydenVariant of Jaden, a modern coinage like Hayden and Aidan (English, boy)
- Jean-MichelGod is gracious, plus who is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
Middle names for Michael
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
Michael: common questions
What does the name Michael mean?
Michael comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God?".
Is Michael a boy or girl name?
Michael is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 13 girls and 8,094 boys in the US were named Michael, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are nicknames for Michael?
Common nicknames for Michael include Mike, Mikey, Mick and Mickey.
How popular is the name Michael?
Michael ranked #21 in the US in 2025, with 8,094 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Michael?
Forms of Michael with the same meaning and origin include Michail (Greek), Michał (Polish), Michalis (Greek), Mícheál (Irish) and Michel (French).
What middle names go with Michael?
Middle names that flow well with Michael include Basil, Beau, Elton, Hugh and John. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.