Michal is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the verb " mikhal", which means "to pour" or "to bring". In the Old Testament of the Bible, Michal is known as the daughter of King Saul and the wife of King David. She was a princess who fell in love with David after watching him defeat the giant Goliath. However, their marriage faced many challenges due to political tensions between their families. Despite these obstacles, Michal remained devoted to David even when she was forced to marry another man. Throughout history, Michal has been associated with loyalty and perseverance in the face of adversity. Today, Michal remains a popular name among Jewish communities around the world and is often chosen by parents who appreciate its biblical significance and strong meaning.
The name Michal has seen a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past nine decades. From 1938 to 2023, there have been a total of 3,952 babies named Michal.
The name's popularity peaked in 1976 with a significant jump from 62 births in 1977 to 85 births that year. This marked a substantial increase compared to the previous years and indicated a brief but notable surge in interest for the name Michal during this period.
However, after this peak, the popularity of the name Michal began to decline steadily over the next few decades. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the number of annual births with the name Michal had decreased significantly, dropping below 50 births per year starting in 2003.
Despite this decline, there were a few years where the popularity of the name Michal saw some resurgence. For instance, in 1985, there were 90 births, and again in 1994, there were 74 births. More recently, in 2022, the number of babies named Michal increased to 41 births.
Overall, while the name Michal has seen fluctuations in popularity over time, it continues to be chosen for a significant number of newborns each year in the United States.