Michelle Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Michelle is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Michelle?
Michelle is spelled M-I-C-H-E-L-L-E. The name has 8 letters.
Michelle at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Michelle is a French feminine form of Michel, which derives from the Hebrew name Michael meaning “who is like God.”
- Origin
- Michelle is commonly associated with French origin as a feminine form related to Michel, itself derived from Hebrew origins.
- Pronunciation
- mi-SHELL · 2 syllables
Michelle Popularity in 2025
Rank#465
Recorded Births661
- Girls usage fell 56 places to #465 and recorded 114 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 Michelle Mean?
Michelle is a French feminine form of Michel, which derives from the Hebrew name Michael meaning “who is like God.”
Origin: Michelle is commonly associated with French origin as a feminine form related to Michel, itself derived from Hebrew origins.
How Do You Pronounce Michelle?
Pronunciationmi-SHELL
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Michelle?
- History
- The name Michelle has been used in French-speaking contexts and gained popularity in various regions during the 20th century.
Michelle Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2007 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 661 | #465 |
| 2024 | Girls | 775 | #409 |
| 2023 | Girls | 766 | #401 |
| 2022 | Girls | 827 | #377 |
| 2021 | Girls | 799 | #394 |
| 2020 | Girls | 923 | #336 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,144 | #292 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,249 | #263 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,429 | #215 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,562 | #209 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,706 | #192 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,751 | #188 |
| 2013 | Girls | 1,892 | #168 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,935 | #162 |
| 2011 | Girls | 2,180 | #144 |
| 2011 | Boys | 10 | #7,502 |
| 2010 | Girls | 2,510 | #125 |
| 2010 | Boys | 9 | #8,139 |
| 2009 | Girls | 3,078 | #104 |
| 2009 | Boys | 6 | #10,994 |
| 2008 | Girls | 3,343 | #101 |
| 2008 | Boys | 11 | #7,187 |
| 2007 | Girls | 3,596 | #94 |
| 2007 | Boys | 8 | #8,915 |
When Was Michelle 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.
1969 · Girls
34,319 recorded births
National rank #2
1970 · Girls
34,047 recorded births
National rank #4
1968 · Girls
33,223 recorded births
National rank #2
1971 · Girls
33,160 recorded births
National rank #2
Where Michelle 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 Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NJ | #246 | 33 |
| IL | #276 | 38 |
| NM | #296 | 5 |
| CA | #300 | 108 |
| NY | #300 | 56 |
| NV | #328 | 8 |
| CT | #350 | 8 |
| WA | #368 | 19 |