What Does the Name Michelle Mean?
Michelle is a girl's name of French (from Hebrew) origin meaning “who is like God?.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Michelle |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | French (from Hebrew) |
| Meaning | who is like God? |
| Variants | Michele, Micheline, Michela, Shelly, Mikayla |
| Popularity | A top 5 US girls' name in the 1960s-1970s |
The meaning and origin of Michelle
The name Michelle means “who is like God?” and has French (from Hebrew) origins. The French feminine form of Michel (Michael), from the Hebrew rhetorical question Mikha'el, 'who is like God?' It surged in English-speaking popularity in the 1960s, aided by the Beatles song 'Michelle.'
Variants and related names
Michelle is related to several other names you may recognize: Michele, Micheline, Michela, Shelly, Mikayla. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Michelle?
A top 5 US girls' name in the 1960s-1970s
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Michelle mean?+
The name Michelle means “who is like God?” and is of French (from Hebrew) origin.
What is the origin of the name Michelle?+
Michelle originates from French (from Hebrew).
Is Michelle a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Michelle has trended in the US over time.
Michelle by gender
More girl'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