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Michael

Hebrew
"who is like God?"
Madison Dresler
By Madison Dresler
Updated Mon Sep 02 2024

Michael Origin and Meaning

The name Michael is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".

Michael was the Number 1 American boys' name for almost half a century. While Michael has moved out of the Top 10 baby boy names, it's still widely used.

How has Michael racked up this phenomenal record? Credit its use by parents of diverse ethnic and religious groups, and Michael's all-around likability, strength, and sincerity.

Michael was derived from the name Mikha’el, which comes from the rhetorical question mī kā’ēl, meaning "who is like God?" in Hebrew. In the Bible, Michael is the archangel who led the other angels to victory in a war against Satan, one of only two archangels (the other is Gabriel) recognized by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.

Today, Michael may feel more like a dad name than a baby name. Substitutes you might consider include Micah, Malachi, Gabriel and Raphael.

# 16 in the US

Michael Rank in US Top 1000

# 145 on Nameberry

Michael Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Michael Popularity

Famous People Named Michael

  • Michael IIX, Byzantine emperors
  • Michael IKing of Romania
  • Michael Asen IIII, Tsars of Bulgaria
  • Michaelgrandson of Uzzi, great,grandson of patriarch Issachar (1 Chr. 7:3)
  • MichaelBiblical archangel
  • Michaeldescendant of patriarch Benjamin (1 Chr. 8:16)
  • Michaelson of Judean King Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 21:2)
  • Michael AlexandrovichGrand Duke of Russia
  • Michael NikolaevichGrand Duke of Russia
  • Michael the BravePrince of Wallachia
  • Michael Joseph JacksonAmerican singer, dancer and songwriter
  • Michael Jeffrey JordanAmerican basketball player
  • Michael CollinsAmerican astronaut
  • Michael CollinsIrish revolutionary leader
  • Michael Kirk DouglasAmerican actor
  • Michael Philip "Mick" Jaggerlead singer of English band The Rolling Stones
  • Michael Landon (born Eugene Maurice Orowitz)American actor
  • Michael Mario AndrettiAmerican racing driver
  • Michael Stanley DukakisAmerican politician, governor of Massachusetts
  • Michael Steven BubleCanadian singer
  • Michael Dale "Mike" HuckabeeAmerican politician, former governor of Arkansas
  • Michael Richard "Mike" Pence48th Vice President of the United States
  • Michael Rubens BloombergAmerican politician, former mayor of New York City
  • Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite)English actor
  • Michael John Burkett aka Fat Mikelead singer of American band NOFX
  • Michael John ClarkeAustralian cricketer
  • Michael Francis MooreAmerican documentary filmmaker
  • Michael LlodraFrench tennis player
  • Michael Clarke DuncanAmerican actor
  • Michael CrabtreeAmerican football player
  • Michael John "Mike" MyersCanadian,American actor/comedian
  • Michael Carl "Mike" BryanAmerican tennis player
  • Michael Gerard "Mike" TysonAmerican boxer
  • Michael Gordon "Mike" OldfieldEnglish musician
  • Michael Deane "Mike" HarrisCanadian politician, former premier of Ontario
  • Michael Scudamore RedgraveEnglish actor
  • (Robert) Michael NesmithAmerican musician of The Monkees
  • Michael Keaton (born Michael John Douglas)American actor
  • Michael EalyAmerican actor
  • Michael EmersonAmerican actor
  • Michael FassbenderGerman,Irish actor
  • Michael J. (Andrew) FoxCanadian,American actor
  • Michael John GambonIrish actor
  • Michael Carlyle HallAmerican actor
  • Michael Soren MadsenAmerican actor
  • Michael J. HarneyAmerican actor
  • Michael JonesAmerican YouTuber
  • Michael David Kors (born Karl Anderson Jr.)American fashion designer
  • Michael OmartianAmerican singer,songwriter and producer
  • Michael Manning Weatherly JrAmerican actor
  • Michael Hazen James McIntyreEnglish comedian
  • Michael Morpurgo (born Michael Andrew Bridge)English children's author
  • Michael John NelsonAmerican comedian
  • Michael Edward Killeen HusseyAustralian cricketer
  • Michael NigroAmerican actor
  • Michael Fred PhelpsAmerican Olympic swimmer
  • Michael "Mike" PilavachiBritish evangelist
  • Michael RookerAmerican actor
  • Michael SchumacherGerman racing driver
  • Michael ScottIrish author
  • Michael Anthony StrahanAmerican NFL football player and talk show host
  • Michael Dwayne VickAmerican NFL football player
  • Michael McDonaldAmerican singer of The Doobie Brothers
  • Michael Mackintosh FootBritish MP
  • Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr13th Marquess of Lothian, Baron Kerr of Monteviot, British MP
  • Michael Terry WeissAmerican actor
  • Michael Austin CeraAmerican actor
  • (John) Michael Stipelead singer of American band R.E.M.
  • Michael Anthony BeachAmerican actor
  • Michael Ian BlackAmerican actor/comedian
  • Michael Willy SchenkerGerman guitarist of band UFO
  • Michael James OwenEnglish footballer
  • Michael MedvedAmerican radio host
  • Michael Donald Kirbyformer Australian High Court justice
  • Michael Leonard BreckerAmerican jazz saxophonist
  • Michael Rex Gilesdrummer of English band King Crimson
  • Michael LaudrupDanish footballer
  • Michael GrantAmerican novelist
  • (George) Michael Sinclair KennedyEnglish biographer and music critic
  • Michael Ryan Pritchardbirth name of Mike Dirnt, bassist for American band Green DayDa
  • Michael James "Mikey" Waybassist for American rock band My Chemical Romance
  • Michael Gordon Cliffordmusician of Australian band 5 Seconds Of Summer
  • Michael RaymondJames, American actor
  • Michael Whitaker SmithAmerican Christian Musician
  • Michael StevensAmerican vlogger & creator of science channel brand Vsauce
  • Michael Daniel Higgins9th President of Ireland
  • Michael ParsonsAmerican ice dancer
  • Michael JungGerman horse rider
  • Michael DornAmerican actor and voice artist
  • Michael RichardsAmerican actor, writer, television producer and comedian
  • Michael BayAmerican filmmaker
  • Michael Chertoff2nd United States Secretary of Homeland Security
  • Michael BufferAmerican ring announcer for boxing and proffesional wrestling
  • Michael Zazarinoactor
  • Johann Michael HaydnAustrian composer
  • Michael "Mike" Christopher Fuentesdrummer of band Pierce the Veil
  • Michael Bakari JordanAmerican actor
  • Michael Robert Wahlbergson of American actor Mark Wahlberg
  • Michael Richard Wayansson of actor Damon Wayans
  • Michael James Duggar (b. 2011)son of reality TV personalities Josh and Anna Duggar
  • Michael "Mike" Shinodaof band Linkin Park
  • Michael KucharskiAustralian YouTuber, also known as Slazo
  • Michael "Mike" Zapcicstar of AMC's Comic Book Men
  • Michael CampionAmerican actor

Michael in Pop Culture

  • Michael Poolea character in Stephen Baxter's "Xeelee Sequence"
  • Michael Corleonemain character in "The Godfather" trilogy
  • Michael Langdoncharacter in "American Horror Story"
  • Ponyboy Michael Curtismain character in S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders"
  • Michael "Mike" Wazowskimain character in Pixar's "Monsters, Inc."
  • Michael Scottcharacter on American TV's version of "The Office"
  • Michael Bluthcharacter on TV's "Arrested Development"
  • Michael Kelsocharacter on TV's "That '70s Show"
  • Michael Weavercharacter in Myra McEntire's Hourglass series
  • Michael Samuellecharacter on TV's "La Femme Nikita"
  • Michael James "Mike" Rosscharacter on TV's "Suits"
  • Michael graycharacter on bbc’s Peaky blinders
  • Michael Glasscharacter in "Morganville Vampires" series
  • Michael Aaron "Mike" Seavercharacter on TV's "Growing Pains"
  • Michael Scofieldmain character on TV's "Prison Break"
  • Michael Vaughncharacter on TV's "Alias" played by Michael Vartan
  • Michael Moscovitzcharacter in "The Princess Diaries" series
  • Michael De Santacharacter in video game "Grand Theft Auto 5"
  • Michael J. Caboosecharacter in web series "Red vs Blue"
  • Michaelarchangel on TV's "Supernatural"
  • Michael Hobbscharacter in movie "Elf"
  • Michael Robertscharacter in movie "Small Island"
  • Michael Tietjenscharacter in movie "Parade's End"
  • Michael Newmancharacter in movie "Click"
  • Michael Edward Mooncharacter on British soap "EastEnders"
  • Michael Dawsoncharacter on TV's "Lost"
  • Michael Zhangcharacter in video game "The Sims"
  • Michael Bachelorcharacter in video game "The Sims"
  • Michael McCarthycharacter in video game "The Sims"
  • Michael "Mick" Taylorcharacter in "Wolf Creek"
  • Michael Veymain character Richard Paul Evans' book series
  • Michael Becketcharacter in the video game series "F.E.A.R."
  • Michael "Mike" Rollins / Steelcharacter in the book "After the Hole" and it's film adaptation "The Hole"
  • Michael Corinthos IIIcharacter on soap "General Hospital"
  • Michael Myersmain character in the "Halloween" movie series
  • Michaelcharacter in Barney's Backyard Gang
  • Michael "Mike" Munroecharacter in video game "Until Dawn"
  • Michael Jon Carter aka Booster Goldcharacter in DC Unierse
  • Michael Pattersoncharacter in comic strip "For Better or for Worse"
  • Michael "Mike" Wheelercharacter in "Stranger Things"
  • Michael Deetscharacter in "South Park"
  • Michaelcharacter in "South Park"
  • "Michael" movie about the angel starring John Travolta
  • "MichaelRow the Boat Ashore," gospel song
  • "Michael" song by Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand
  • Michael Kingpseudonym used early in the career of real life
  • Brooklyn Born Political Leader Rabbi Meir Kahane (193290)
  • Michael "Mike" Crewcharacter on "The Magnus Archives"
  • Michaela different character on "The Magnus Archives"

Michael in Nameberry Blog Posts