Meshell Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: meh-SHELL //məˈʃɛl//
Origin: French; Hebrew
Meaning: French: Who is like God?; Hebrew: Gift from God
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Meshell is a modern variation of the name Michelle, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Mikha'el, meaning "who is like God?" This Hebrew name was translated into Greek as Mikhaēl and later into Latin as Michael. The name became popular in various forms across different cultures, particularly in the Christian tradition, where it is associated with the archangel Michael, a prominent figure in biblical texts.
The name Michelle emerged in France during the medieval period as the feminine form of Michel, gaining traction in the 20th century as a standalone name in English-speaking countries, particularly after the release of the Beatles song "Michelle" in 1965, which contributed to its popularity. Historically, the name Michelle has been borne by several notable figures, including Saint Michael, who is celebrated in Christian liturgy and is often depicted as a protector and leader of the heavenly armies.
The name's biblical roots and its association with the archangel have given it a significant cultural resonance, symbolizing strength, protection, and divine favor. The name has also been featured in various literary and artistic works, further embedding it in cultural consciousness.
In addition to its historical and religious significance, the name Meshell, as a variant, reflects the trend of creating unique spellings of traditional names, which has been a characteristic of modern naming practices. The name's phonetic appeal and its connection to the well-established name Michelle contribute to its enduring presence in contemporary culture.
Overall, Meshell serves as a testament to the evolution of names through linguistic and cultural transformations, maintaining a link to its rich historical and spiritual heritage.
Famous people named Meshell
In this section, you will find notable people named Meshell. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Meshell who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Meshell who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Meshell Ndegeocello is a musician and singer-songwriter best known for Plantation Lullabies, Bitter, and Peace Beyond Passion.
Meshell Ndegeocello is a bassist and producer known for her unique blend of genres including R&B, jazz, and hip-hop.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Meshell, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Meshell. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Meshell was first seen in the United States in 1958.
Meshell has ranked as high as #1034 nationally, which occurred in 1966, and has been most popular in California, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Meshell has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Meshell is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Meshell was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Meshell (1970)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Meshell.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 1999 | 5 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1997 | 7 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1994 | 5 |
| 1993 | 6 |
| 1992 | 7 |
| 1991 | 10 |
| 1990 | 14 |
| 1989 | 8 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1987 | 7 |
| 1986 | 5 |
| 1985 | 7 |
| 1984 | 6 |
| 1983 | 7 |
| 1982 | 5 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1980 | 5 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1978 | 14 |
| 1977 | 10 |
| 1976 | 14 |
| 1975 | 18 |
| 1974 | 19 |
| 1973 | 13 |
| 1972 | 16 |
| 1971 | 25 |
| 1970 | 27 |
| 1969 | 22 |
| 1968 | 18 |
| 1967 | 19 |
| 1966 | 35 |
| 1965 | 17 |
| 1964 | 8 |
| 1963 | 11 |
| 1962 | 16 |
| 1961 | 12 |
| 1960 | 9 |
| 1958 | 6 |