Have you ever wondered about the meaning of the name Michael? This article will provide you with all of the info you need on the name Michael, including its definition, etymology, usage, and more!
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Kevin
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August 1, 2021
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Common Questions
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What does the name Michael mean?
According to Baby Names and Very Well Family, the name Michael is derived from the name Mikha’el/Hebrew mīkhā’ē’l, the Hebrew word for “who is like God?” which is a rhetorical question. In the Bible and Hebrew tradition, Michael is one of the archangels and a conqueror of Satan. He appears with other angels in the Bible in the Old Testament in the Book of Daniel as a protector of Israel. This name has been used in Western Europe since the Middle Ages and in England since the 12th century, from Michael the Patron Saint of Soldiers. In the United States, the name Michael was popular from 1954 to 2008, often ranking in the #1 or #2 spot. According to the Social Security Administration, the name Michael held the top spot until 1998. This name is popular all over the world, in Canada, Wales, Portugal, Australia, Romania, Ireland as one of the most famous baby boy names. The name has also been used for Byzantine emperors.
There are many name variations of the male name Michael in different languages:
- Miguel (Portuguese, Spanish)
- Mikel (Swedish)
- Mikkel (Danish, Norweigian)
- Michel (French)
- Mihály (Hungarian)
- Michele (Italian)
- Mikhail (Greek, Russian Михаил)
- Michal (Polish)
- Miguel (Portuguese)
- Mícheál (Gaelic)
- Mícheál (Irish)
- Micheil (Gaelic)
- Michiel (Dutch)
- Mihail (Rumanian)
- Mihangel (Welsh)
There are many celebrities with the name Michael due to its popularity, from singer/musician/actor/dancer/songwriter Michael Jackson to basketball player Michael Jordan and Irish actor Michael Gambon. There are also numerous different nicknames for the name Michael if you want to name your child something traditional but call them something unique. These are listed below from Find Perfect Names.
- Mick
- Mickey
- Mac
- Mitch
- Mike
- Mike
- Miks
- Mikael
- Mitt
- Mikki
- Micka
- Micael
- Mack
- Mikes
- Makey
- Mol
- MJ
- Myke
- M
- Mikle
- Mikko
- Michi
- Mikestar
- Micky
- Michaelangelo
- Mikel
- Mikey
- Mi
What are other names starting with M?
There are many other names that start with M if you are looking for an alternative to Michael or potential sisters or brothers’ names. The name Michael isn’t right for everyone, or you might already know someone named Michael which is why you could decide not to use that name. These other names starting with M are listed below, from The Bump.
- Myrtia
- Myrline
- Magdalene
- Milagros
- Melodie
- Miranda
- Marceline
- Mariana
- Markel
- Mercy
- Maxson
- Mia
- Major
- Matthias
- Marian
- Myrleen
- Malena
- Macey
- Mayhew
- Melina
- Mayra
- Maximus
- Massimo
- Myles
- Miles
- Miley
- Maribel
- Mignonette
- Murray
- Maison
- Milena
- Madisson
- Muhammad
- Maiya
- Morten
- Maryann
- Maryjane
- Maurice
- Misha
- Meyer
- Mazi
- Melvin
- Maxine
- Marilynn
- Miroslaw
- Marshall
- Millie
- Madyson
- Maleah
- Marta
- Montserrat
- Ma
- Munroe
- Mordecai
- Maisy
- McKay
- Manuel
- Micheal
- Minoru
- Mariruth
- Madoline
- Mellon
- Mela
- Malden
- Morland
- Mercer
- Marlynne
- Merriman
- Melisa
- Meinrad
- Mable
- Mycah
- Maragaret
- Merce
- Mateus
- MarJane
- Mertle
- Moxie
- Marcia
- Margrete
- Maridel
- Margaruite
- Morrey
- Merlie
- Maymie
- Morriss
- Michele
- MacKayla
- Michiyo
- Mandy
- Maribelle
- Munir
- Mayne
- Myung
- Mendy
- Mica
- Middleton
- Michelangelo
- Manny
- Minetta
- Mera
- Marinelle
- Maricela
- Medgar
- Manerva
- Margeree
- Merv
- Margerie
- Macon
- Medie
- Mazen
- Macario
- Morrel
- Mayfield
- Morrill
- Moore
- Mai
- Marjolaine
- Mirtie
- Meryll
- Maida
- Malva
- Mali
- Marylea
- Moana
- Miran
- Minos
- Mahlon
- Marietta
- Melia
- Maxim
- Marquis
- Mariella
- Malak
- Mosella
- Mercedes
- Masaji
- Monte
- Marlow
- Marius
- Marie
- Mieczyslaw
- Maple
- Miya
- Macie
- Mildrid
- Madeline
- Maddie
- Mabry
- Marianne
- Maizie
- Malinda
- Maryn
- Mathew
- Marcella
- Marvin
- Marcus
- Marquise
- Masaichi
- Marwood
- Mervin
- Mariah
- Mishka
- Murphy
- Melania
- Mafalda
- Mordechai
- Margaux
- Mulan
- Marcello
- Maximo
- Mila
- Miliana
- Minne
- Mindy
- Meir
- Myka
- Mahir
- Marlon
- Marlie
- Miguel
- Madalyn
- Mars
- Melanie
- Mae
- Micaela
- Malakhi
- Martina
- Makai
- Moises
- Marley
- Mona
- Maite
- Marguerite
- Michelle
- Mariela
- Maddox
- Macklin
- Marquez
- Merritt
- Moshe
- Marianna
- Monroe
- Malvie
- Mecca
- Mike
- Marilda
- Murton
- Maleia
- Maysen
- Madelyn
- Mitsuo
- Mira
- Melani
- Marcile
- Meredith
- Mackenzie
- Mauritz
- Montana
- Melodi
- Myra
- Maritza
- Mikayla
- Michaela
- Maverick
- Mattias
- Maximiliano
- Marina
- Mylo
- Miah
- Malka
- Marlene
- MacKenna
- Mina
- Magdalena
- Malcom
- Mya
- Marisa
- Madelle
- Morrison
- Marleigh
- Mitchell
- Mitty
- Martha
- Myla
- Morell
- Mattie
- Mohammed
- Margo
- Mace
- Many
- Margerete
- Memphis
- Maryam
- Mara
- Malik
- Mauro
- Mohamad
- Mariel
- Moira
- Mateo
- McKayla
- Milton
- Mallory
- Mileena
- Mei
- Micaiah
- Marielle
- Makayla
- Milla
- Morris
- Maura
- Merci
- Melany
- Marjorie
- Malcolm
- Maia
- McKinley
- Maelynn
- Mitsuye
- Margot
- Myron
- Millicent
- Melissa
- Manville
- Magnus
- Makena
- Marillyn
- Margarita
- Mendel
- Megan
- Melinda
- Maisey
- Marshawn
- Madison
- Mikel
- Matsuko
- Markus
- Maleek
- Michal
- Mikhail
- Meghan
- Merlen
- Marlee
- Mohammad
- Mykah
- Melody
- Marigold
- Maira
- Mathias
- Maximilian
- Miriam
- Mildred
- Magaly
- Montgomery
- Maris
- Marek
- McCoy
- Maya
- Mariano
- Manolo
- Madina
- Malachai
- Majesty
- Marlena
- Marcelino
- Mirabelle
- Milly
- Mahogany
- Marvel
- Mitsue
- Milan
- Monique
- Margaret
- Marla
- Medard
- Makenzie
- Mckenzie
- Marlo
- Mavrick
- Malika
- Madeleine
- Malina
- Milo
- Menachem
- Maria
- Monserrat
- Mavis
- Mason
- Merlin
- Max
- Micah
- Matteo
- Meadow
- Mael
- Malaika
- Mag
- Maddison
- Malorie
- Mykel
- Mariam
- Modest
- Merida
- Marlowe
- Marcel
- Mika
- Mahalia
- Muhammed
- Maxwell
- Monty
- Macy
- Marcela
- Makari
- Marin
- Mamoru
- Meera
- Mario
- Marlen
- Minerva
- Mayah
- Marisol
- Marko
- Mayer
- Merrick
- Makenna
- Mauricio
- Maren
- Marwa
- Marion
- Madisyn
- Morgan
- Matias
- Mickey
- Marilyn
- Moina
- Maximillian
- Malachi
- May
- Marcell
- Molly
- Martin
- Millerd
- Mac
- Matilda
- Madilyn
- Musa
- Mohamed
- Marc
- Malaki
- Marcelo
- Mirabella
- Marcellus
- Minnie
- Mireya
- Maisie
- Makaio
- Mari
- Margey
- Markell
- Marty
- Matthew
- Maci
- Manfried
- Meira
- McKenna
- Mary
- Mollie
- Marco
- Maeve
- Mansell
- Malek
- Miller
- Maksim
- Moses
- Maggie
- Madalynn
- Maidie
- Madelynn
- Maelee
- Mikael
- Manuela
- Miko
- Milana
- Malia
- Maceo
- Mellicent
- Mahmoud
- Moriah
- Marcos
- Mark
- Monica
- Manie
- Maxx
- Mikaela
- Marlin
- Mack
- Mallorie
- Mustafa
- Marthy
- Mazie
- Musetta
- Marissa
- Magnolia
- Mabel
Overall, the name Michael means “who is like God?” This rhetorical question is of Hebrew origin. The name Michael, like other Biblical names such as Gabriel, Raphael, and more, are found in the Old Testament. The name Michael is extremely popular and has been so since the 1950s in America and even earlier around the world. This is a very versatile name that has many variants and nicknames.
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