Names › Boys' names › M › Michael
Michael
Meaning: who is like God? · Origin: Hebrew · Gender: usually a boy's name
Origin & history
From Hebrew Mikha'el, 'who is like God?' — the archangel. Michelangelo is its Italian form.
Famous people named Michael
- Michael Jordan (basketball)
- Michael Jackson (singer)
- Michelangelo (artist)
Nicknames
Mike, Mikey, Mick
Variants & related names
Michel, Miguel, Mikhail, Michele
Michael name art
A free preview of a printable “Michael” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Michael mean?
Michael means “who is like God?”. It comes from Hebrew.
Is Michael a popular name?
Yes — Michael has been one of the most popular boys' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.
What are nicknames for Michael?
Mike, Mikey, Mick.
What are other forms of Michael?
Michel, Miguel, Mikhail, Michele.
Similar names
Abel · Matthew · Simon · Tobias · Zion · Emmanuel
More: names starting with M · all boys' names
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.