Boy name · Hebrew
Miguel
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: who is like God?Miguel is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God?". It is used in Spanish and Portuguese.
- Meaning
- Who is like God?
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- mee-GEL (Spanish)
Meaning and origin of Miguel
As a boy's name, Miguel comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God?". It is used in Spanish and Portuguese.
In Spanish, say mee-GEL. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Miguel is also a surname: the 3,169th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 11,122 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Miguel on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Miguel on 2 lists.
“Who is like God? Spanish and Portuguese form of Michael”
From Angelic names, archangel names for boys
“Who is like God; Hebrew. Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. Say mee-GEL”
From Spanish boy names, names of famous Spaniards
How popular is Miguel?
- US rank in 2025
- #212
- 1,661 babies, 972 per million boys
- Best rank
- #86 in 2000
- Most babies: 4,906 in 2007
- Babies since 1880
- At least 190,566
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 76 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 106 per million |
| 1900s | 141 per million |
| 1910s | 117 per million |
| 1920s | 167 per million |
| 1930s | 157 per million |
| 1940s | 167 per million |
| 1950s | 305 per million |
| 1960s | 508 per million |
| 1970s | 988 per million |
| 1980s | 1,385 per million |
| 1990s | 2,105 per million |
| 2000s | 2,310 per million |
| 2010s | 1,433 per million |
| 2020s | 1,113 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #163 | #176 | #179 | #178 | #189 | #196 | #185 | #194 | #189 | #212 |
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.
Other forms of Miguel
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- MichaelWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- 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)
- MikaelWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MikailWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- MikalaWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Miguel
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- ManuelGod with us (Hebrew, boy)
- MikelWho 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)
- João MiguelGod is gracious, who is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- José MiguelHe will add, who is like God (Hebrew, boy)
- Luis MiguelFamous warrior, who is like God? (Germanic and Hebrew, boy)
- MahsaLike the moon (Persian, girl)
- MahvashMoon-like (Persian, girl)
Middle names for Miguel
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)
- 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)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
- SamuelName of God (Hebrew, boy)
- SimonHe has heard (Hebrew, boy)
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- BenSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- EthanFirm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
- JoelYahweh is God (Hebrew, boy)
Miguel: common questions
What does the name Miguel mean?
Miguel comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God?".
Is Miguel a boy or girl name?
Miguel is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Miguel come from?
Miguel comes from Hebrew and means "who is like God?". Today it is used in Spanish and Portuguese.
How do you pronounce Miguel?
In Spanish, say mee-GEL. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Miguel?
Miguel ranked #212 in the US in 2025, with 1,661 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Miguel?
Forms of Miguel with the same meaning and origin include Michael (English), Michail (Greek), Michał (Polish), Michalis (Greek) and Mícheál (Irish).
What middle names go with Miguel?
Middle names that flow well with Miguel include Basil, Beau, Clark, Dale and David. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.