Michael
Peaked at #1 nationally in 1954, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Michael has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Michael comes from the Hebrew Mikha'el, a rhetorical question meaning "Who is like God?" In Jewish, Christian, and Islamic tradition, Michael is one of the archangels — often depicted as a warrior figure who leads the heavenly armies — which is a major reason the name has endured across so many cultures and centuries.
Notable people & culture
Michael held the #1 spot for U.S. boys' names for most years from the mid-1950s through the late 1990s, an unusually long reign. It's associated with figures as varied as Michael Jordan and Michael Jackson, and it's given rise to common short forms like Mike and Mikey.
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Michael — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#373
in 1975
Current rank
#7450
in 2024
Years tracked
118
1897–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1897, Michael reached its peak popularity for girls in 1975, ranking #373 nationally with 557 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #4235 (2014) to #7450 (2024) — a 43% drop.
As of 2024, Michael ranks #7450 nationally for girls, with 15 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #7,450 | 15 |
| 2023 | #6,094 | 20 |
| 2022 | #6,383 | 19 |
| 2021 | #4,918 | 27 |
| 2020 | #5,270 | 24 |
| 2019 | #4,314 | 33 |
| 2018 | #6,169 | 20 |
| 2017 | #4,282 | 34 |
Michael — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#1
in 1954
Current rank
#18
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Michael reached its peak popularity for boys in 1954, ranking #1 nationally with 88,564 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #7 (2014) to #18 (2024) — a 61% drop.
As of 2024, Michael ranks #18 nationally for boys, with 8,189 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #18 | 8,189 |
| 2023 | #16 | 8,416 |
| 2022 | #16 | 8,888 |
| 2021 | #17 | 9,136 |
| 2020 | #12 | 9,824 |
| 2019 | #14 | 10,614 |
| 2018 | #14 | 11,750 |
| 2017 | #12 | 12,723 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Michael most popular?
Michael was most popular in 1954, when it ranked #1 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Michael becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Michael?
At least 4,440,391 babies have been recorded with the name Michael in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Michael? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.