Miguel is a masculine given name of Spanish and Portuguese origin. It is derived from the name Michael, which means "who is like God?" in Hebrew. The name Miguel is particularly popular in Spain and Latin America.
The name Miguel has a rich history and has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Miguel de Cervantes, the Spanish novelist who wrote the renowned work "Don Quixote." Another notable figure is Miguel Ángel Asturias, a Guatemalan writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1967.
In terms of its popularity, Miguel has been consistently popular throughout the years. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it was among the top 500 most popular boys' names in the United States for every year between 1984 and 2019. In Spain, it is also a commonly used name, ranking among the top 20 most popular boys' names in recent years.
Overall, Miguel is a strong and enduring name with a rich history and cultural significance. Its meaning, "who is like God?", reflects its divine origins and conveys a sense of strength and power. Despite its Spanish and Portuguese roots, it has been widely adopted across cultures and continues to be popular today.
The name Miguel has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past century in the United States. Between 1927 and 2023, there have been a total of 996 babies named Miguel at birth.
From 1927 to 1965, the number of births with the name Miguel varied between 5 and 14 per year. However, starting in 1968, we see a notable increase in popularity, with over 10 births each year until 1976.
The peak of popularity for the name Miguel was reached in 1978, with 29 births that year. This high level of popularity was maintained throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, with over 20 births each year from 1976 to 1984.
However, after 1985, we observe a steady decline in the number of babies named Miguel. The popularity of the name continued to drop until it reached its lowest point since 1934 in recent years, with only 5 births each year from 2016 to 2023.
This data reflects the trends and fluctuations in the popularity of the name Miguel over time in the United States. While it once enjoyed a period of high popularity, it has since seen a decline in usage as a baby boy's name.