Girl · #10,911 in 2026

Micelle

A micelle or micella is an aggregate of surfactant amphipathic lipid molecules dispersed in a liquid, forming a colloidal suspension. A typical micelle in water forms an aggregate, with the hydrophilic "head" regions in contact with surrounding solvent, sequestering the hydrophobic single-tail regions in the micelle centre.

Current Rank
#10,911
Peak Rank
#6,889 (1982)
Total Babies
29
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1967
First Year
1986
Last Year
1982
Peak Year
#6889
Peak Rank
29
Total Count
5
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Micelle

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A micelle or micella is an aggregate of surfactant amphipathic lipid molecules dispersed in a liquid, forming a colloidal suspension. A typical micelle in water forms an aggregate, with the hydrophilic "head" regions in contact with surrounding solvent, sequestering the hydrophobic single-tail regions in the micelle centre.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
The ability of a soapy solution to act as a detergent has been recognized for centuries. However, it was only at the beginning of the twentieth century that the constitution of such solutions was scientifically studied. Pioneering work in this area was carried out by James William McBain at the University of Bristol . As early as 1913, he postulated the existence of "colloidal ions" to explain the good electrolytic conductivity of sodium palmitate solutions. These highly mobile, spontaneously formed clusters came to be called micelles, a term borrowed from biology and popularized by G.S. Hartl

The Story of Micelle

Micelle first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1967, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1982, when 9 Micelles were born — ranking #6,889 that year. As of 2026, Micelle ranks #10,911 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 29 Micelles have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
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Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Micelle

Phonetically similar names — useful when Micelle is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Missile
  • Missle
  • Missel
  • Mistle
  • Missal
  • Missil
  • Mrl
  • Misael
  • Mousel
  • Mizelle
  • Muscle
  • Mussel

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Micelle

What does the name Micelle mean?
A micelle or micella is an aggregate of surfactant amphipathic lipid molecules dispersed in a liquid, forming a colloidal suspension. A typical micelle in water forms an aggregate, with the hydrophilic "head" regions in contact with surrounding solvent, sequestering the hydrophobic single-tail regions in the micelle centre.
How popular is Micelle in 2026?
In 2026, Micelle ranks #10,911 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Micelle most popular?
Micelle reached its peak popularity in 1982, ranking #6,889 that year with 9 babies given the name.
Is Micelle a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Micelle is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Micelle?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Micelle include Josanna, Liesha, Stefenie. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Micelle

Micelle is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1967 and has accumulated 29 births in the dataset. Micelle's peak popularity came in 1982 when it ranked #6,889. Use the chart and map above to compare Micelle's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.