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Miguel Name Meaning, Origins & History

Miguel

Pronunciation: mee-GEL

Meaning Who is like God? Origin Portuguese, Spanish Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#212
TREND
23
Peak Years
2007, 2006, 2005
Lowest Years
1896, 1891, 1889
Energy Archetype
Hardworking & Dutiful

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Miguel in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Miguel

  • A favorite of earlier generations: Miguel appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 18 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 2009 through 2009.
  • More than 191 thousand babies named Miguel: U.S. records list 191,540 babies given the name Miguel from 1880 through 2025. Even 996 girls received the name Miguel - about 1 girl for every 191 boys.

What Does the Name Miguel Mean?

Miguel is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Michael, a name derived from the Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el). Its established meaning is "Who is like God?" The Hebrew name is commonly analyzed as a rhetorical question made from mī ("who"), kə ("like"), and ʾēl ("God"). In this reading, the question emphasizes that no one is comparable to God; it is not a statement that the bearer is like God. The same meaning is carried by the Greek form Μιχαήλ (Mikhaēl), the Latin Michael, and the later Spanish and Portuguese Miguel.

Miguel Name History & Origins

The earlier Hebrew form Mikha'el appears in the Book of Daniel, where Michael is named as a heavenly protector of Israel (Daniel 10:13, 10:21; 12:1). In the New Testament, Revelation 12:7 describes Michael leading angels in battle against the dragon. Greek-speaking Jews and Christians rendered the name as Μιχαήλ (Mikhaēl), and Latin speakers used Michael. From Latin, the name passed into the Romance languages; in the Iberian Peninsula it became Miguel in Spanish and Portuguese. The Spanish and Portuguese forms are therefore not separate inventions but regional developments of the same inherited name.

Devotion to Saint Michael the Archangel was widespread in medieval Europe, and the name Michael and its vernacular equivalents were common in Christian lands. In Spain and Portugal, Miguel became a standard given name. The Spanish and Portuguese empires carried it to the Americas, Africa, and Asia, where it is established in Hispanic and Lusophone communities. Historical bearers include Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616), author of Don Quixote; Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753 - 1811), a leader of the Mexican War of Independence; and Miguel I of Portugal (1802 - 1866).

How Popular is the Name Miguel?

Miguel recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2007. Miguel ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1991 through 2007, then returned in 2009 and remained through 2009.

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.

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.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Miguel

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

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How the Name Miguel Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.

✦ Miguel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Miguel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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