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Michael Boy

Popularity: #18 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationMYE-kul / /ˈmaɪ.kəl/

Hebrew; Latin; Greek

Meaning

Hebrew: Who is like God?; Latin: Like God; Greek: One who is like God

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Michael has its roots in the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el), which translates to "Who is like God?" This question reflects a rhetorical device common in Hebrew names, emphasizing the greatness of God. The name was adopted into Greek as Μιχαήλ (Mikhaēl) and subsequently into Latin as Michael, which was then introduced into Old French before making its way into Middle English. The transition through these languages illustrates the name's enduring significance across cultures and eras, particularly within Judeo-Christian contexts.

Historically, Michael is a prominent figure in religious texts, notably as one of the archangels in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament. His mention in the Book of Daniel, which dates back to the 6th century BCE, marks one of the earliest references. Michael is also depicted in the Book of Revelation, where he leads the heavenly armies against the forces of evil. The name gained further prominence through the veneration of Saint Michael, whose feast day is celebrated on September 29. The establishment of this feast in the 5th century CE solidified the name's association with protection and divine strength.

Culturally, Michael has been a symbol of leadership and valor, often associated with military and protective roles. The name has appeared in various forms of literature and art, including the famous depiction of Saint Michael defeating the dragon in Renaissance art. Its resonance is further enhanced by its use in various languages and cultures, maintaining a sense of reverence and historical depth. The diminutive form, Mike, has also emerged, reflecting a more familiar and approachable variant of the name, though its historical significance remains tied to the original form.

Trend Summary

Michael has consistently been a popular name in the United States, frequently ranking among the top names for boys since the 20th century.

Similar Names

MichealMarkMarcusMitchellMilesMalcolmMason

Variants

  • Mikael
  • Mikhail
  • Micheal

International Variants

  • Mikael (Swedish)
  • Mikhail (Russian)
  • Michele (Italian)
  • Miguel (Spanish)
  • Mihai (Romanian)

Famous people named Michael

Michael Jordan is a former professional basketball player best known for his time with the Chicago Bulls, winning six NBA championships, and being a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Michael Jackson is a singer and entertainer best known for his albums Thriller, Bad, and Dangerous.

Michael Phelps is a former competitive swimmer best known for winning 23 Olympic gold medals and setting multiple world records.

Michael Caine is an actor best known for his roles in The Dark Knight, Alfie, and The Cider House Rules.

Michael Keaton is an actor best known for his roles in Batman, Birdman, and Beetlejuice.

Michael B. Jordan is an actor and producer best known for his roles in Black Panther, Creed, and Fruitvale Station.

Michael Fassbender is an actor best known for his roles in 12 Years a Slave, Steve Jobs, and X-Men: First Class.

Michael Douglas is an actor and producer best known for his roles in Wall Street, Basic Instinct, and The Game.

Michael Bay is a film director and producer best known for directing the Transformers series, Armageddon, and Pearl Harbor.

Michael J. Fox is an actor best known for his roles in Back to the Future, Family Ties, and Spin City.

Michael Chiklis is an actor best known for his roles in The Shield, Fantastic Four, and Gotham.

Michael Mann is a film director and producer best known for directing Heat, Collateral, and The Insider.

Michael Stipe is a musician best known as the lead singer of the band R.E.M. and for songs like Losing My Religion and Everybody Hurts.

Michael Strahan is a former professional American football player best known for his time with the New York Giants and as a television personality on Good Morning America.

Michael C. Hall is an actor best known for his roles in Dexter, Six Feet Under, and Safe.

Michael Gambon is an actor best known for his role as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series.

Michael Clarke Duncan is an actor best known for his role in The Green Mile and for his performances in The Whole Nine Yards and Armageddon.

Michael Irby is an actor best known for his roles in The Unit, Barry, and The Last Ship.

Michael Weatherly is an actor best known for his roles in NCIS, Bull, and Dark Angel.

Michael McKean is an actor and comedian best known for his roles in This Is Spinal Tap, Better Call Saul, and Laverne & Shirley.

Michael Rosenbaum is an actor best known for his role as Lex Luthor in Smallville and for his work in the film Urban Legend.

Michael Wincott is an actor best known for his roles in The Crow, Alien: Resurrection, and 1492: Conquest of Paradise.

Michael Nouri is an actor best known for his roles in Flashdance, The Terminal, and The Proposal.

Michael McDonald is a singer and songwriter best known for his work with The Doobie Brothers and his solo hits like I Keep Forgettin'.

Michael Ealy is an actor best known for his roles in Barbershop, Think Like a Man, and The Perfect Guy.

Michael S. Schmidt is a journalist best known for his reporting for The New York Times and his coverage of national security issues.

Fictional characters named Michael

Michael Myers is a fictional character from the horror film franchise Halloween. He is a relentless serial killer known for his iconic mask and silent demeanor.

Sibling Suggestions

GabrielSamuelDanielDavidJonathanMatthew

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Michael was first seen in the United States in 1880. Michael has ranked as high as #1 nationally, which occurred in 1957, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Michael has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Michael (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 914
12%
TX 883
11%
NY 592
8%
FL 579
8%
PA 372
5%
IL 332
4%
OH 300
4%
NC 239
3%
MI 239
3%
GA 236
3%
VA 236
3%
MA 191
2%
TN 179
2%
AZ 159
2%
IN 153
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880354
1881298
1882321
1883307
1884373
1885370
1886348
1887344
1888466
1889377
1890394
1891333
1892380
1893407
1894423
1895413
1896399
1897368
1898434
1899375
1900495
1901384
1902460
1903466
1904462
1905513
1906531
1907586
1908688
1909635
1910844
19111,159
19122,104
19132,607
19143,362
19154,079
19164,210
19174,288
19184,296
19193,910
19204,003
19214,198
19223,990
19233,915
19243,874
19253,761
19263,485
19273,605
19283,598
19293,465
19303,542
19313,489
19323,607
19333,549
19344,108
19354,906
19365,800
19377,094
19389,076
193910,829
194013,228
194115,935
194221,728
194324,745
194426,717
194529,902
194641,192
194750,505
194852,566
194960,046
195065,138
195172,805
195279,039
195384,202
195488,564
195588,352
195690,691
195792,786
195890,598
195985,291
196084,139
196186,968
196285,056
196383,757
196482,619
196581,002
196679,984
196782,412
196881,974
196985,159
197085,271
197177,585
197271,391
197367,808
197467,535
197568,422
197666,917
197767,588
197867,133
197967,718
198068,687
198168,759
198268,228
198367,997
198467,741
198564,936
198664,236
198763,663
198864,168
198965,409
199065,318
199160,807
199254,409
199349,568
199444,475
199541,410
199638,373
199737,557
199836,619
199933,915
200032,043
200129,689
200228,258
200327,129
200425,470
200523,827
200622,651
200722,024
200820,651
200918,960
201017,381
201116,822
201216,209
201315,540
201415,496
201514,497
201614,139
201712,723
201811,750
201910,614
20209,824
20219,136
20228,888
20238,416
20248,189