Michael is a popular given name of English origin, meaning "who is like God?" It has been widely used throughout history and across different cultures. The name Michael is derived from the Hebrew name Mika'el, which means "like unto God." It was originally used as an archangel's name in Jewish literature, referring to the angel who fought against Satan and won.
The name Michael became popular in Christian communities during the Middle Ages, thanks to its association with the Archangel Michael. The popularity of the name has continued throughout history, with notable figures bearing this name such as Saint Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of soldiers, police officers, and other protectors of the innocent; Michael the Brave, a Romanian voivode who unified Wallachia and Transylvania in the 16th century; and Michael Jordan, the renowned American basketball player.
The name Michael has also been used by many famous musicians, actors, and writers throughout history. It has consistently ranked high in popularity charts for boys' names in various countries around the world. Today, Michael remains a widely recognized and beloved given name, reflecting its rich heritage and enduring appeal across different cultures and eras.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe the fluctuation of babies named Michael born in the United States from 1942 to 2010.
From the earliest year recorded, 1942, there were only 7 births. This number remained relatively low until the mid-1950s when it began to increase steadily. The years 1953 and 1955 saw a significant jump with 8 and 12 births respectively.
The peak of Michael births occurred between 1967 and 1974, with consistently high numbers each year, reaching as high as 14 in 1978. This period saw the highest number of Michaels being born compared to any other decade in the provided statistics.
However, this trend began to decline towards the late 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with numbers ranging between 6 and 12 births per year. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw another peak with around 10 births per year.
In recent years, the number of Michaels born has been fluctuating but generally decreasing, with only 5 or 7 births recorded each year from 1994 to 2010. Despite this decrease, Michael remains a popular name in America, as evidenced by the total of 344 babies named Michael born over the course of these 69 years.
These statistics demonstrate how the popularity of the name Michael has evolved over time in the United States, with periods of high and low popularity. This information can be useful for those interested in naming trends and patterns over time.