gender neutral
Michael
who is like God
About Michael
Few names carry the timeless weight and universal recognition of Michael. Across generations, cultures, and continents, this name has maintained its position as a pillar of reliability and strength. Its enduring popularity stems from its remarkable versatility—Michael transitions seamlessly from playground to boardroom, from casual gatherings to formal occasions. The name offers multiple nickname options, allowing personalization while maintaining connection to the classic form.
Michael represents a safe yet sophisticated choice that will never feel dated or out of place. Parents selecting this name give their son a foundation built on centuries of positive associations, from archangels to artists, leaders to innovators.
The name's widespread usage means easy pronunciation across languages, eliminating the awkward spelling-out conversations some names require. Michael provides a dependable anchor in a child's identity, familiar enough to feel comfortable yet distinguished enough to wear with pride throughout an entire lifetime.
Popularity of the Name Michael
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #46 | ||||
| 1881 | #54 | ||||
| 1882 | #57 | ||||
| 1883 | #55 | ||||
| 1884 | #51 | ||||
| 1885 | #47 | ||||
| 1886 | #53 | ||||
| 1887 | #48 | ||||
| 1888 | #46 | ||||
| 1889 | #51 | ||||
| 1890 | #48 | ||||
| 1891 | #55 | ||||
| 1892 | #59 | ||||
| 1893 | #49 | ||||
| 1894 | #51 | ||||
| 1895 | #52 | ||||
| 1896 | #53 | ||||
| 1897 | #57 | ||||
| 1898 | #52 | ||||
| 1899 | #51 | ||||
| 1900 | #51 | #60 | |||
| 1901 | #52 | #71 | |||
| 1902 | #48 | #58 | |||
| 1903 | #47 | #69 | |||
| 1904 | #50 | #66 | |||
| 1905 | #45 | #67 | |||
| 1906 | #46 | #72 | |||
| 1907 | #48 | #83 | |||
| 1908 | #44 | #74 | |||
| 1909 | #47 | #81 | |||
| 1910 | #45 | #82 | |||
| 1911 | #38 | #80 | |||
| 1912 | #42 | #77 | |||
| 1913 | #40 | #80 | |||
| 1914 | #40 | #78 | |||
| 1915 | #43 | #75 | |||
| 1916 | #44 | #80 | |||
| 1917 | #44 | #75 | |||
| 1918 | #45 | #71 | |||
| 1919 | #46 | #80 | |||
| 1920 | #50 | #72 | |||
| 1921 | #47 | #72 | |||
| 1922 | #48 | #85 | |||
| 1923 | #50 | #79 | |||
| 1924 | #54 | #87 | |||
| 1925 | #55 | #75 | |||
| 1926 | #56 | #83 | |||
| 1927 | #52 | #69 | |||
| 1928 | #53 | #64 | |||
| 1929 | #54 | #61 | |||
| 1930 | #54 | #54 | |||
| 1931 | #55 | #55 | |||
| 1932 | #54 | #48 | |||
| 1933 | #53 | #30 | |||
| 1934 | #47 | #30 | |||
| 1935 | #41 | #22 | |||
| 1936 | #33 | #23 | |||
| 1937 | #27 | #19 | |||
| 1938 | #21 | #15 | |||
| 1939 | #18 | #14 | |||
| 1940 | #18 | #11 | |||
| 1941 | #16 | #9 | |||
| 1942 | #13 | #8 | |||
| 1943 | #10 | #8 | |||
| 1944 | #9 | #8 | |||
| 1945 | #9 | #6 | |||
| 1946 | #7 | #5 | |||
| 1947 | #7 | #5 | |||
| 1948 | #6 | #5 | |||
| 1949 | #5 | #5 | |||
| 1950 | #4 | #4 | |||
| 1951 | #4 | #4 | |||
| 1952 | #4 | #4 | |||
| 1953 | #3 | #5 | |||
| 1954 | #1 | #4 | |||
| 1955 | #1 | #4 | |||
| 1956 | #1 | #4 | |||
| 1957 | #1 | #4 | |||
| 1958 | #1 | #4 | |||
| 1959 | #1 | #4 | |||
| 1960 | #2 | #3 | |||
| 1961 | #1 | #3 | |||
| 1962 | #1 | #2 | |||
| 1963 | #1 | #2 | |||
| 1964 | #1 | #2 | #3 | ||
| 1965 | #1 | #2 | #3 | ||
| 1966 | #1 | #2 | #2 | ||
| 1967 | #1 | #2 | #2 | ||
| 1968 | #1 | #1 | #3 | ||
| 1969 | #1 | #2 | #3 | ||
| 1970 | #1 | #2 | #2 | ||
| 1971 | #1 | #2 | #2 | ||
| 1972 | #1 | #2 | #2 | ||
| 1973 | #1 | #1 | #2 | ||
| 1974 | #1 | #1 | #2 | ||
| 1975 | #1 | #1 | #2 | ||
| 1976 | #1 | #1 | #3 | ||
| 1977 | #1 | #1 | #3 | ||
| 1978 | #1 | #1 | #4 | ||
| 1979 | #1 | #1 | #4 | ||
| 1980 | #1 | #2 | #3 | ||
| 1981 | #1 | #1 | #3 | ||
| 1982 | #1 | #2 | #3 | ||
| 1983 | #1 | #1 | #3 | ||
| 1984 | #1 | #1 | #3 | ||
| 1985 | #1 | #2 | #3 | ||
| 1986 | #1 | #1 | #3 | ||
| 1987 | #1 | #1 | #3 | ||
| 1988 | #1 | #2 | #3 | ||
| 1989 | #1 | #1 | #3 | ||
| 1990 | #1 | #3 | #3 | ||
| 1991 | #1 | #2 | #5 | #1 | |
| 1992 | #1 | #4 | #2 | #1 | |
| 1993 | #1 | #4 | #4 | #1 | |
| 1994 | #1 | #6 | #5 | #1 | |
| 1995 | #1 | #7 | #7 | #2 | |
| 1996 | #1 | #10 | #4 | #2 | |
| 1997 | #1 | #22 | #9 | #4 | #2 |
| 1998 | #1 | #21 | #15 | #9 | #2 |
| 1999 | #2 | #25 | #16 | #6 | #5 |
| 2000 | #2 | #28 | #16 | #9 | #7 |
| 2001 | #2 | #31 | #20 | #10 | #8 |
| 2002 | #2 | #33 | #26 | #8 | #9 |
| 2003 | #2 | #34 | #23 | #7 | #11 |
| 2004 | #2 | #38 | #26 | #9 | #14 |
| 2005 | #2 | #39 | #31 | #10 | #20 |
| 2006 | #2 | #39 | #37 | #9 | #22 |
| 2007 | #2 | #41 | #38 | #10 | #23 |
| 2008 | #2 | #50 | #37 | #13 | #24 |
| 2009 | #3 | #52 | #39 | #10 | #24 |
| 2010 | #3 | #51 | #47 | #12 | #23 |
| 2011 | #6 | #49 | #54 | #9 | #27 |
| 2012 | #7 | #50 | #53 | #10 | #27 |
| 2013 | #7 | #50 | #63 | #8 | #32 |
| 2014 | #7 | #50 | #57 | #14 | #28 |
| 2015 | #9 | #46 | #59 | #8 | #31 |
| 2016 | #8 | #57 | #48 | #9 | #38 |
| 2017 | #12 | #62 | #57 | #10 | #37 |
| 2018 | #14 | #68 | #74 | #9 | #37 |
| 2019 | #14 | #68 | #89 | #18 | #45 |
| 2020 | #12 | #70 | #81 | #18 | #40 |
| 2021 | #17 | #74 | #82 | #13 | #59 |
| 2022 | #16 | #81 | #95 | #13 | #53 |
| 2023 | #16 | #83 | #100 | #16 | #44 |
| 2024 | #18 | #80 | #105 | #17 | #55 |
| 2025 | #21 | #80 | #70 | #23 | #55 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Michael
Names Similar to Michael
Nicknames for Michael
- Mike
- Mikey
- Mick
- Mickey
Famous People Named Michael
| Michael Jackson | American singer and dancer |
| Michael Jordan | American basketball player |
| Michael Phelps | American swimmer |
| Michael B. Jordan | American actor |
| Michael Caine | British actor |
| Michael Fassbender | German-Irish actor |
| Michael Douglas | American actor |
| Michael J. Fox | Canadian-American actor |
| Michael Keaton | American actor |
| Michael Schumacher | German racing driver |
| Michael Bloomberg | American entrepreneur and politician |
| Michael Bay | American filmmaker |
| Michael Clarke Duncan | American actor |
| Michael Bolton | American singer-songwriter |
| Michael Owen | English footballer |
| Michael Faraday | English scientist and inventor |
| Michael Nyman | British composer |
| Michael Flatley | Irish-American dancer |
| Michael Palin | British comedian and writer |
Characters Named Michael
| Michael Corleone | The Godfather |
| Michael Scott | The Office |
| Michael Bluth | Arrested Development |
| Michael Myers | Halloween |
| Michael Knight | Knight Rider |
| Michael Langdon | American Horror Story |
| Michael Sullivan | Road to Perdition |
| Michael Vaughn | Alias |
| Michael Kelso | That '70s Show |
| Michael Westen | Burn Notice |
| Michael Dawson | Lost |
| Michael Garibaldi | Babylon 5 |
| Michael De Santa | Grand Theft Auto V |
| Michael Carpenter | The Dresden Files |
| Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels | Tootsie |
| Michael Sullivan Jr. | The Giver |
| Michael Stone | Anomalisa |
| Michael Scofield | Wentworth |