How to say it
mi · CHELLE
/miˈʃɛl/
Feminine
Michelle
Who is like God?
What it means
The French feminine of Michael, from the Hebrew for 'who is like God?'
Michelle is the French feminine form of Michael, from the Hebrew mikha'el, a rhetorical question meaning 'who is like God?' The Beatles song Michelle made it a global hit in the 1960s, and it stayed a top name for decades. First Lady Michelle Obama keeps it dignified and current. Shelly and Mich are shorts. Said mee-SHEL.
Popularity over time
peaked at #2 in 1968, currently #465 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Shelly, Mich.
- Pop culture
The Beatles song Michelle; Michelle Obama.
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.
- Michelle Obama lawyer, author, and former US First Lady
Spelling variants
- Michele
- Michèle
- Mishell
Names with the same feeling
See Michelle from another angle
By style