Michael is a name of Hebrew origin. The name comes from the Hebrew name "Mikha'el," which means "Who is like God?"
Michael is a name that symbolizes protection, strength, and devotion to God.
Trends in Popularity
Michael has been a popular name for centuries and has been consistently ranked among the top names for boys in the United States and many other countries around the world.
In the United States, Michael was the most popular name for boys in the 1940s and 1950s and remains a popular name today, ranking as the 37th most popular name for boys in 2020.
Famous People Named Michael
- Michael Jordan, former professional basketball player and current owner of the Charlotte Hornets
- Michael Jackson, legendary pop singer and dancer
- Michael Moore, filmmaker and political commentator
- Michael Keaton, actor known for his roles in "Batman" and "Beetlejuice"
Fun Facts
- Michael is a popular name in many cultures and has been translated into various forms in different languages, including Miguel (Spanish), Mikko (Finnish), and Michal (Polish).
- In the Bible, Michael is an archangel who is responsible for defeating Satan and protecting the people of God.
- The name Michael has been used for several hurricanes, including Hurricane Michael which hit Florida in 2018.
Michael rank report (US ranking for newborns 2021)
- Rank 13. Alexander
- Rank 14. Jackson
- Rank 15. Mateo
- Rank 16. Daniel
- Rank 17. Michael
- Rank 18. Mason
- Rank 19. Sebastian
- Rank 20. Ethan
- Rank 21. Logan
Nicknames for Michael
| Mike | mīk | Shortened version of the name Michael |
| Mikey | mī-kē | A more informal and affectionate nickname for Michael |
| Mick | mik | A shortened version of the name Michael, more common in the UK and Ireland |
| Micky | mik-ē | A more informal and affectionate nickname for Michael, more common in the UK and Ireland |
| Mich | mich | A shortened version of the name Michael, more common in France |
| Micha | mī-kə | A shortened version of the name Michael, more common in Germany |
| Michal | mī-khäl | A Hebrew nickname for Michael, meaning 'who is like God |
| Misha | mē-shə | A Russian nickname for Michael, meaning 'who is like God |
Famous people named Michael
| Michael Jordan | Basketball player | Considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time |
| Michael Jackson | Singer-songwriter | King of Pop who sold over 350 million records worldwide |
| Michael Phelps | Swimmer | Most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals |
| Michael B. Jordan | Actor | Known for his roles in Creed, Black Panther, and Fruitvale Station |
| Michael Caine | Actor | Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in The Dark Knight, Inception, and The Italian Job |
| Michael Fassbender | Actor | Known for his roles in X-Men, Steve Jobs, and 12 Years a Slave |
| Michael Douglas | Actor | Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in Wall Street, Basic Instinct, and Ant-Man |
| Michael Keaton | Actor | Known for his roles in Batman, Beetlejuice, and Birdman |
| Michael Bay | Film director | Known for directing blockbuster films such as Armageddon, Transformers, and Bad Boys |
| Michael Bloomberg | Businessman | Former mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg L.P. |
Fictional character called Michael from pop culture
| Michael Corleone | The Godfather | The main character of the Godfather trilogy, portrayed by Al Pacino. He is the youngest son of the Corleone family and becomes the head of the family business. |
| Michael Scott | The Office | The main character of the American version of The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell. He is the regional manager of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin paper company. |
| Michael Myers | Halloween | The main antagonist of the Halloween film franchise. He is a masked serial killer who stalks and kills his victims on Halloween night. |
| Michael Knight | Knight Rider | The main character of the 1980s television series Knight Rider, portrayed by David Hasselhoff. He is a crime-fighting vigilante who drives a high-tech car named KITT. |
| Michael Bluth | Arrested Development | The main character of the television series Arrested Development, portrayed by Jason Bateman. He is the responsible son of the dysfunctional Bluth family. |
| Michaelangelo | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | One of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, named after the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo. He is known for his love of pizza and his use of nunchucks as a weapon. |
| Michael Corvin | Underworld | The main character of the Underworld film series, portrayed by Scott Speedman. He is a human who becomes involved in the war between vampires and werewolves. |
| Michael Westen | Burn Notice | The main character of the television series Burn Notice, portrayed by Jeffrey Donovan. He is a former spy who uses his skills to help people in need while trying to uncover the truth behind his own burn notice. |
| Michael Kelso | That '70s Show | A main character of the television series That '70s Show, portrayed by Ashton Kutcher. He is the dim-witted but lovable boyfriend of Jackie Burkhart. |
| Michael Jordan | Basketball | A retired professional basketball player, widely considered to be one of the greatest of all time. He played for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. |
Frequently Asked Questions about Michael
| What is the meaning of the name Michael? | The name Michael means 'who is like God'. |
| Is Michael a popular name? | Yes, Michael has been a popular name for many years. |
| What are some famous people named Michael? | Famous people named Michael include Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, and Michael Phelps. |
| What are some common nicknames for Michael? | Common nicknames for Michael include Mike, Mikey, and Mick. |
| What is the origin of the name Michael? | The name Michael has Hebrew origins. |
| What is the ranking of the name Michael in popularity? | As of 2021, Michael is ranked #12 in popularity in the United States. |
| Is Michael a unisex name? | No, Michael is traditionally a male name. |
| What are some variations of the name Michael? | Variations of the name Michael include Michel, Miguel, and Mihai. |
| What is the most common spelling of the name Michael? | The most common spelling of the name Michael is with the letters M-I-C-H-A-E-L. |