Fun Facts About the Name Michael
- A favorite across generations: Michael stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 4,426,620 boys named Michael from 1880 through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Michael's rank fell 20 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 4 million babies named Michael: U.S. records list 4,448,498 babies given the name Michael from 1880 through 2025. Even 21,878 girls received the name Michael - about 1 girl for every 202 boys.
What Does the Name Michael Mean?
Michael is a Hebrew name meaning "Who is like God?" The Hebrew form is Mikha'el (מִיכָאֵל), usually analyzed as mi ("who"), kha ("like" or "as"), and El ("God"). The phrase is generally understood as a rhetorical question rather than a claim that the bearer is equal to God. It passed into Greek as Mikhaēl (Μιχαήλ) and Latin as Michael. In Christian use, the question has sometimes been read as a statement of God's incomparability or as a rebuke to pride, but that is a later symbolic interpretation, not a separate literal etymology.
Michael Name History & Origins
The name appears in the Hebrew Bible for human figures and for the archangel Michael. In Numbers, Sethur is named as the son of Michael; in Daniel, Michael is described as a heavenly prince who protects Israel. The New Testament names him in Jude, where he disputes with the devil over the body of Moses, and in Revelation, where he leads angels against the dragon. Islamic tradition knows the archangel as Mika'il, often associated with mercy and provision.
From the Greek and Latin forms came Old French Michel, Spanish Miguel, Italian Michele, and Russian Mikhail. In Western Christianity, the feast of St Michael, Michaelmas, was fixed on September 29, and churches dedicated to him were common in medieval Europe. The name was borne by several Byzantine emperors, including Michael III, and by Mikhail Romanov, the first Romanov tsar, in 1613. In Arabic-speaking Christian communities, Mikhail is used, while Mika'il is the angelic form. English short forms include Mike and Mickey.
How Popular is the Name Michael?
Michael has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,188 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #7,450 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2023 | #6,094 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #6,383 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2021 | #4,918 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2020 | #5,270 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2019 | #4,314 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 2018 | #6,169 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #4,282 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 2016 | #4,322 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2015 | #4,120 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2014 | #4,235 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2013 | #3,892 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 2012 | #5,202 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2011 | #4,127 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2010 | #4,083 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2009 | #3,601 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 2008 | #3,110 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 2007 | #3,314 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 2006 | #2,770 | 64 | 0.0034% |
| 2005 | #2,748 | 61 | 0.0033% |
| 2004 | #1,409 | 148 | 0.0081% |
| 2003 | #1,944 | 94 | 0.0051% |
| 2002 | #1,884 | 95 | 0.0053% |
| 2001 | #1,846 | 96 | 0.0053% |
| 2000 | #1,568 | 114 | 0.0063% |
| 1999 | #1,428 | 123 | 0.0069% |
| 1998 | #1,360 | 128 | 0.0072% |
| 1997 | #1,257 | 142 | 0.0082% |
| 1996 | #1,162 | 157 | 0.0090% |
| 1995 | #1,073 | 167 | 0.0095% |
| 1994 | #970 | 192 | 0.0108% |
| 1993 | #871 | 223 | 0.0123% |
| 1992 | #789 | 258 | 0.0140% |
| 1991 | #772 | 267 | 0.0142% |
| 1990 | #751 | 277 | 0.0146% |
| 1989 | #595 | 363 | 0.0197% |
| 1988 | #474 | 480 | 0.0270% |
| 1987 | #411 | 544 | 0.0313% |
| 1986 | #392 | 590 | 0.0344% |
| 1985 | #419 | 531 | 0.0309% |
| 1984 | #421 | 508 | 0.0302% |
| 1983 | #385 | 577 | 0.0345% |
| 1982 | #403 | 576 | 0.0340% |
| 1981 | #441 | 487 | 0.0292% |
| 1980 | #409 | 546 | 0.0329% |
| 1979 | #393 | 554 | 0.0345% |
| 1978 | #384 | 545 | 0.0356% |
| 1977 | #378 | 560 | 0.0365% |
| 1976 | #398 | 515 | 0.0352% |
| 1975 | #373 | 557 | 0.0382% |
| 1974 | #392 | 525 | 0.0358% |
| 1973 | #431 | 451 | 0.0309% |
| 1972 | #430 | 452 | 0.0297% |
| 1971 | #448 | 459 | 0.0276% |
| 1970 | #461 | 457 | 0.0261% |
| 1969 | #449 | 458 | 0.0271% |
| 1968 | #440 | 471 | 0.0287% |
| 1967 | #496 | 373 | 0.0226% |
| 1966 | #509 | 346 | 0.0204% |
| 1965 | #504 | 355 | 0.0201% |
| 1964 | #566 | 303 | 0.0160% |
| 1963 | #501 | 377 | 0.0196% |
| 1962 | #520 | 355 | 0.0181% |
| 1961 | #546 | 325 | 0.0161% |
| 1960 | #548 | 316 | 0.0156% |
| 1959 | #588 | 285 | 0.0141% |
| 1958 | #574 | 295 | 0.0147% |
| 1957 | #614 | 255 | 0.0125% |
| 1956 | #622 | 238 | 0.0119% |
| 1955 | #579 | 250 | 0.0128% |
| 1954 | #618 | 217 | 0.0112% |
| 1953 | #581 | 232 | 0.0123% |
| 1952 | #647 | 190 | 0.0102% |
| 1951 | #669 | 172 | 0.0096% |
| 1950 | #642 | 179 | 0.0104% |
| 1949 | #602 | 188 | 0.0110% |
| 1948 | #637 | 170 | 0.0100% |
| 1947 | #635 | 173 | 0.0098% |
| 1946 | #611 | 169 | 0.0108% |
| 1945 | #583 | 158 | 0.0121% |
| 1944 | #563 | 168 | 0.0127% |
| 1943 | #553 | 188 | 0.0135% |
| 1942 | #594 | 156 | 0.0115% |
| 1941 | #717 | 97 | 0.0080% |
| 1940 | #793 | 80 | 0.0070% |
| 1939 | #764 | 81 | 0.0074% |
| 1938 | #941 | 58 | 0.0053% |
| 1937 | #1,041 | 47 | 0.0044% |
| 1936 | #1,129 | 40 | 0.0038% |
| 1935 | #1,296 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1934 | #1,752 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1933 | #1,461 | 26 | 0.0026% |
| 1932 | #1,797 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1931 | #1,582 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1930 | #1,267 | 36 | 0.0032% |
| 1929 | #1,327 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1928 | #1,360 | 33 | 0.0029% |
| 1927 | #1,546 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1926 | #1,435 | 32 | 0.0027% |
| 1925 | #1,400 | 34 | 0.0028% |
| 1924 | #1,377 | 36 | 0.0029% |
| 1923 | #1,548 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1922 | #1,495 | 31 | 0.0026% |
| 1921 | #1,806 | 24 | 0.0019% |
| 1920 | #1,868 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1919 | #1,683 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1918 | #1,439 | 30 | 0.0026% |
| 1917 | #2,656 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1916 | #1,929 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1915 | #2,214 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1914 | #1,710 | 16 | 0.0021% |
| 1913 | #1,852 | 12 | 0.0019% |
| 1912 | #2,290 | 8 | 0.0014% |
| 1911 | #2,116 | 7 | 0.0017% |
| 1910 | #1,721 | 9 | 0.0023% |
| 1909 | #1,900 | 7 | 0.0020% |
| 1906 | #2,135 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| 1897 | #1,346 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #21 | 8,094 | 0.4739% |
| 2024 | #18 | 8,189 | 0.4774% |
| 2023 | #16 | 8,416 | 0.4926% |
| 2022 | #16 | 8,888 | 0.5095% |
| 2021 | #17 | 9,136 | 0.5226% |
| 2020 | #12 | 9,824 | 0.5695% |
| 2019 | #14 | 10,614 | 0.5918% |
| 2018 | #14 | 11,750 | 0.6472% |
| 2017 | #12 | 12,723 | 0.6876% |
| 2016 | #8 | 14,139 | 0.7453% |
| 2015 | #9 | 14,497 | 0.7565% |
| 2014 | #7 | 15,496 | 0.8069% |
| 2013 | #7 | 15,540 | 0.8217% |
| 2012 | #7 | 16,209 | 0.8546% |
| 2011 | #6 | 16,822 | 0.8858% |
| 2010 | #3 | 17,381 | 0.9060% |
| 2009 | #3 | 18,960 | 0.9560% |
| 2008 | #2 | 20,651 | 1.0123% |
| 2007 | #2 | 22,024 | 1.0613% |
| 2006 | #2 | 22,651 | 1.1022% |
| 2005 | #2 | 23,827 | 1.1931% |
| 2004 | #2 | 25,470 | 1.2833% |
| 2003 | #2 | 27,129 | 1.3734% |
| 2002 | #2 | 28,258 | 1.4555% |
| 2001 | #2 | 29,689 | 1.5281% |
| 2000 | #2 | 32,043 | 1.6316% |
| 1999 | #2 | 33,915 | 1.7663% |
| 1998 | #1 | 36,619 | 1.9159% |
| 1997 | #1 | 37,557 | 1.9923% |
| 1996 | #1 | 38,373 | 2.0258% |
| 1995 | #1 | 41,410 | 2.1753% |
| 1994 | #1 | 44,475 | 2.3021% |
| 1993 | #1 | 49,568 | 2.5274% |
| 1992 | #1 | 54,409 | 2.7240% |
| 1991 | #1 | 60,807 | 3.0098% |
| 1990 | #1 | 65,318 | 3.1801% |
| 1989 | #1 | 65,409 | 3.2690% |
| 1988 | #1 | 64,168 | 3.3522% |
| 1987 | #1 | 63,663 | 3.4099% |
| 1986 | #1 | 64,236 | 3.4882% |
| 1985 | #1 | 64,936 | 3.5133% |
| 1984 | #1 | 67,741 | 3.7531% |
| 1983 | #1 | 67,997 | 3.7930% |
| 1982 | #1 | 68,228 | 3.7599% |
| 1981 | #1 | 68,759 | 3.8385% |
| 1980 | #1 | 68,687 | 3.8499% |
| 1979 | #1 | 67,718 | 3.9332% |
| 1978 | #1 | 67,133 | 4.0885% |
| 1977 | #1 | 67,588 | 4.1129% |
| 1976 | #1 | 66,917 | 4.2645% |
| 1975 | #1 | 68,422 | 4.3819% |
| 1974 | #1 | 67,535 | 4.2949% |
| 1973 | #1 | 67,808 | 4.3504% |
| 1972 | #1 | 71,391 | 4.4021% |
| 1971 | #1 | 77,585 | 4.3870% |
| 1970 | #1 | 85,271 | 4.5885% |
| 1969 | #1 | 85,159 | 4.7620% |
| 1968 | #1 | 81,974 | 4.7164% |
| 1967 | #1 | 82,412 | 4.7258% |
| 1966 | #1 | 79,984 | 4.4847% |
| 1965 | #1 | 81,002 | 4.3542% |
| 1964 | #1 | 82,619 | 4.1460% |
| 1963 | #1 | 83,757 | 4.1243% |
| 1962 | #1 | 85,056 | 4.1115% |
| 1961 | #1 | 86,968 | 4.0947% |
| 1960 | #2 | 84,139 | 3.9466% |
| 1959 | #1 | 85,291 | 3.9958% |
| 1958 | #1 | 90,598 | 4.2689% |
| 1957 | #1 | 92,786 | 4.3010% |
| 1956 | #1 | 90,691 | 4.2873% |
| 1955 | #1 | 88,352 | 4.2893% |
| 1954 | #1 | 88,564 | 4.3439% |
| 1953 | #3 | 84,202 | 4.2692% |
| 1952 | #4 | 79,039 | 4.0665% |
| 1951 | #4 | 72,805 | 3.8667% |
| 1950 | #4 | 65,138 | 3.6384% |
| 1949 | #5 | 60,046 | 3.3850% |
| 1948 | #6 | 52,566 | 2.9959% |
| 1947 | #7 | 50,505 | 2.7605% |
| 1946 | #7 | 41,192 | 2.5364% |
| 1945 | #9 | 29,902 | 2.2218% |
| 1944 | #9 | 26,717 | 1.9604% |
| 1943 | #10 | 24,745 | 1.7337% |
| 1942 | #13 | 21,728 | 1.5732% |
| 1941 | #16 | 15,935 | 1.2973% |
| 1940 | #18 | 13,228 | 1.1412% |
| 1939 | #18 | 10,829 | 0.9784% |
| 1938 | #21 | 9,076 | 0.8183% |
| 1937 | #27 | 7,094 | 0.6651% |
| 1936 | #33 | 5,800 | 0.5592% |
| 1935 | #41 | 4,906 | 0.4711% |
| 1934 | #47 | 4,108 | 0.3978% |
| 1933 | #53 | 3,549 | 0.3579% |
| 1932 | #54 | 3,607 | 0.3454% |
| 1931 | #55 | 3,489 | 0.3356% |
| 1930 | #54 | 3,542 | 0.3228% |
| 1929 | #54 | 3,465 | 0.3221% |
| 1928 | #53 | 3,598 | 0.3248% |
| 1927 | #52 | 3,605 | 0.3199% |
| 1926 | #56 | 3,485 | 0.3138% |
| 1925 | #55 | 3,761 | 0.3370% |
| 1924 | #54 | 3,874 | 0.3420% |
| 1923 | #50 | 3,915 | 0.3572% |
| 1922 | #48 | 3,990 | 0.3667% |
| 1921 | #47 | 4,198 | 0.3811% |
| 1920 | #50 | 4,003 | 0.3761% |
| 1919 | #46 | 3,910 | 0.3989% |
| 1918 | #45 | 4,296 | 0.4239% |
| 1917 | #44 | 4,288 | 0.4633% |
| 1916 | #44 | 4,210 | 0.4730% |
| 1915 | #43 | 4,079 | 0.4807% |
| 1914 | #40 | 3,362 | 0.5135% |
| 1913 | #40 | 2,607 | 0.5086% |
| 1912 | #42 | 2,104 | 0.4894% |
| 1911 | #38 | 1,159 | 0.5129% |
| 1910 | #45 | 844 | 0.4346% |
| 1909 | #47 | 635 | 0.3872% |
| 1908 | #44 | 688 | 0.4458% |
| 1907 | #48 | 586 | 0.3991% |
| 1906 | #46 | 531 | 0.3988% |
| 1905 | #45 | 513 | 0.3877% |
| 1904 | #50 | 462 | 0.3606% |
| 1903 | #47 | 466 | 0.3908% |
| 1902 | #48 | 460 | 0.3750% |
| 1901 | #52 | 384 | 0.3607% |
| 1900 | #51 | 495 | 0.3290% |
| 1899 | #51 | 375 | 0.3531% |
| 1898 | #52 | 434 | 0.3538% |
| 1897 | #57 | 368 | 0.3264% |
| 1896 | #53 | 399 | 0.3337% |
| 1895 | #52 | 413 | 0.3518% |
| 1894 | #51 | 423 | 0.3654% |
| 1893 | #49 | 407 | 0.3624% |
| 1892 | #59 | 380 | 0.3114% |
| 1891 | #55 | 333 | 0.3291% |
| 1890 | #48 | 394 | 0.3549% |
| 1889 | #51 | 377 | 0.3409% |
| 1888 | #46 | 466 | 0.3856% |
| 1887 | #48 | 344 | 0.3392% |
| 1886 | #53 | 348 | 0.3141% |
| 1885 | #47 | 370 | 0.3432% |
| 1884 | #51 | 373 | 0.3259% |
| 1883 | #55 | 307 | 0.2934% |
| 1882 | #57 | 321 | 0.2824% |
| 1881 | #54 | 298 | 0.2958% |
| 1880 | #46 | 354 | 0.3204% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
