MICHELLE  

Gender: F
Origin: French variation of MICHAEL
Meaning: "who is like God"

Popularity in 2008: #103

Onetime superstar name (Number 4 in the seventies) that's now in steep decline, though it just dropped out of the Top 100. First Lady Michelle Obama keeps it in the spotlight. Today's feminine form of Michael is more likely to be some form of Michaela...or Makayla.

Variations:
Myshell, Machelle, Mischel, Micki, Meshell, M'shell, Shelly, Micaela, Mychelle, Mashelle, Meshelle, Meichelle, Mishell, Mishael, Miquela, Michaelina, Mitchelle, Mishaela, Mitchele, Machele, Machella, Miguela, Mischelle, Meschell, Michaela, Myshella, Mishayla, Meshella, Michaeline, Michella, Michaella, Michell, Mechelle, Mickie, Midge, Mia, Meechelle, Michellene, Mishaelle, Machealle, Mishelle, M'Chelle, Michel, Mikaela, Chelle, Machell, Michelina, Misha, Shelli, Michal, Michele, Michellyn

International Variations:
Michéle, Micheline (French)

Michelle is being discussed in our message boards:

• A thought
• How Important is following a sibset?
• Poll: Once a Nickname... Always a Nickname???
• Cheaper By the Dozen
• narrowing my list...need help

Read Nameberry blog posts about Michelle:

• HEY, JUDE: Names from the Beatles and beyond
• MIDDLE NAMES: The Strange, The Ordinary, and The Embarrassing
• CONFESSIONS OF A SECRET NAME NERD
• TEN GREAT NAMES YOU’RE NOT USING
• WHEN MOM HATES YOUR BABY'S NAME