Michael Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Michael is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Michael?
Michael is spelled M-I-C-H-A-E-L. The name has 7 letters.
Michael at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Michael means “Who is like God.”
- Origin
- The name Michael is commonly associated with Hebrew origins and is derived from a Hebrew question meaning “Who is like God.”
- Pronunciation
- MY-kul · 2 syllables
Michael Popularity in 2025
Rank#7,885
Recorded Births13
Rank#21
Recorded Births8,094
- Girls usage fell 953 places to #7,885 and recorded 3 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 3 places to #21 and recorded 135 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Michael Mean?
Michael means “Who is like God.”
Origin: The name Michael is commonly associated with Hebrew origins and is derived from a Hebrew question meaning “Who is like God.”
How Do You Pronounce Michael?
PronunciationMY-kul
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Michael?
- History
- Michael has been used historically in various cultures and is frequently found in religious texts, notably within Judeo-Christian traditions.
Michael Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 13 | #7,885 |
| 2025 | Boys | 8,094 | #21 |
| 2024 | Girls | 16 | #6,932 |
| 2024 | Boys | 8,229 | #18 |
| 2023 | Girls | 20 | #5,960 |
| 2023 | Boys | 8,430 | #16 |
| 2022 | Girls | 19 | #6,229 |
| 2022 | Boys | 8,895 | #16 |
| 2021 | Girls | 27 | #4,833 |
| 2021 | Boys | 9,150 | #17 |
| 2020 | Girls | 24 | #5,168 |
| 2020 | Boys | 9,833 | #12 |
| 2019 | Girls | 33 | #4,260 |
| 2019 | Boys | 10,619 | #14 |
| 2018 | Girls | 20 | #6,010 |
| 2018 | Boys | 11,756 | #14 |
| 2017 | Girls | 34 | #4,220 |
| 2017 | Boys | 12,726 | #12 |
| 2016 | Girls | 34 | #4,250 |
| 2016 | Boys | 14,145 | #8 |
| 2015 | Girls | 36 | #4,069 |
| 2015 | Boys | 14,504 | #9 |
| 2014 | Girls | 35 | #4,178 |
| 2014 | Boys | 15,505 | #7 |
When Was Michael Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1957 · Boys
92,781 recorded births
National rank #1
1956 · Boys
90,691 recorded births
National rank #1
1958 · Boys
90,604 recorded births
National rank #1
1954 · Boys
88,568 recorded births
National rank #1
Where Michael Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NJ | #7 | 343 |
| PA | #10 | 385 |
| MD | #12 | 151 |
| NY | #13 | 604 |
| MS | #13 | 75 |
| CT | #14 | 105 |
| IL | #15 | 329 |
| NV | #15 | 77 |