What Does the Name Michael Mean?
Michael is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning “who is like God?.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Michael |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | who is like God? |
| Variants | Mike, Mikhail, Miguel, Michel, Mitchell |
| Popularity | Most popular US boys' name for much of the 1950s-1990s |
The meaning and origin of Michael
The name Michael means “who is like God?” and has Hebrew origins. Michael comes from the Hebrew Mikha'el, a rhetorical question meaning 'who is like God?' Borne by the archangel, it has been one of the most enduring names in the English-speaking world.
Variants and related names
Michael is related to several other names you may recognize: Mike, Mikhail, Miguel, Michel, Mitchell. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Michael?
Most popular US boys' name for much of the 1950s-1990s
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Michael mean?+
The name Michael means “who is like God?” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Michael?+
Michael originates from Hebrew.
Is Michael a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Michael has trended in the US over time.
Michael by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press