How to say it
MIE · kul
ˈmaɪ.kəl
Masculine
Michael
Who is like God?
What it means
From the Hebrew Mikha'el. A rhetorical question whose implied answer is 'no one.' The form is itself a small statement of faith.
The archangel Michael appears in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Quran as the warrior-protector of God's people, the one who casts out Lucifer and stands at the final battle. Michael was the most-given American boys' name for almost half a century (1954 onward, with brief interruptions). Spanish Miguel, French Michel, Italian Michele, German Michael, and Russian Mikhail are all the same name. Currently US top twenty for boys, down from its peak but still solid. Common short forms: Mike, Mick, Mickey.
How to spell Michael
The standard spelling is Michael. Common variants include Mikha'el, Miguel, Michel, Michele, Mikhail, Mihail, but Michael is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #1 in 1954, currently #21 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Mike is universal; Mikey is the childhood form. Spanish-speaking families sometimes use Miguel as the formal version.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Michael Jordan NBA legend, six championships with the Chicago Bulls
- Michael Jackson King of Pop, Thriller
- Michael Phelps Most-decorated Olympian, 23 gold medals
- Archangel Michael Chief of the heavenly host across Abrahamic traditions
Spelling variants
- Mikha'el
- Miguel
- Michel
- Michele
- Mikhail
- Mihail
Names with the same feeling
See Michael from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Michael mean?
- From the Hebrew Mikha'el. A rhetorical question whose implied answer is 'no one.' The form is itself a small statement of faith.
- What does Michael mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Michael means "Who is like God?." The archangel Michael appears in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Quran as the warrior-protector of God's people, the one who casts out Lucifer and stands at the final battle. Michael was the most-given American boys' name for almost half a century (1954 onward, with brief interruptions). Spanish Miguel, French Michel, Italian Michele, German Michael, and Russian Mikhail are all the same name. Currently US top twenty for boys, down from its peak but still solid. Common short forms: Mike, Mick, Mickey.
- How do you pronounce Michael?
- Michael is pronounced ˈmaɪ.kəl. Say it as MIE-kul, with the stress on the "mie" syllable.
- How do you spell Michael?
- The standard spelling is Michael. Common spelling variants include Mikha'el, Miguel, Michel, Michele, Mikhail, Mihail.
- Is Michael a boy or girl name?
- Michael is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Michael?
- Michael ranked #21 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.