Michael is a name of Greek origin that means "who is like God?". It is derived from the Greek word "mikhael", which itself comes from the Hebrew name "Mikha'el". This name has been popular throughout history and is often associated with angels, particularly Michael, who is believed to be the archangel mentioned in the Bible. The name Michael was borne by several early Christian saints and became widespread among European royalty during the Middle Ages. Today, it remains a popular choice for boys around the world, with variations such as Michel, Miquel, and Mikael also being used in different languages and cultures.
The name Michael has been popular among parents in the United States for over a century. The earliest record of its popularity is from 1897, with seven babies named Michael born that year.
Over the next decade, the number of births fluctuated slightly, ranging between five and twelve per year. However, starting in the 1920s, the name began to gain traction, with at least twenty-two births annually.
The 1940s marked a significant turning point for Michael's popularity. From 1942 onwards, the number of babies named Michael surpassed one hundred each year, peaking at 188 in 1949. This trend continued throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with an average of around two hundred to three hundred births per year.
The name Michael reached its peak popularity in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1974, a record-breaking 525 babies were named Michael, making it the second most popular boys' name that year.
However, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily after the mid-1970s. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, fewer than three hundred babies were being named Michael each year.
This downward trend continued throughout the 2000s and 2010s, with fewer than fifty babies named Michael annually between 2005 and 2023. The most recent data from 2023 shows that only nineteen boys were named Michael at birth.
In total, over a span of 126 years (from 1897 to 2023), there have been 21,847 babies named Michael born in the United States. Despite its decline in recent years, Michael remains one of the most popular boys' names in American history.