Michel
Michel is a name used today in France, Canada, Belgium and other French-speaking countries. It can be both a given name and a surname of Hebrew origin, derived from Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל / מיכאל, meaning Who Is Like God? The name is particularly common in French, German, Dutch, and Afrikaans.
Meaning & Origin of Michel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Michel is a name used today in France, Canada, Belgium and other French-speaking countries. It can be both a given name and a surname of Hebrew origin, derived from Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל / מיכאל, meaning Who Is Like God? The name is particularly common in French, German, Dutch, and Afrikaans.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Michel
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Michel as a girl name dates back to 1939, when 5 babies received it. 1966 was its biggest year on record, with 89 newborns named Michel — #1,119 in the national rankings. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (14 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 4K Michels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1930s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Michel on the record books as a boy name in 1880, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1957, when 284 Michels were born — ranking #457 that year. The 1950s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 22% of all recorded Michels. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,764 among boy names with 30 births, gradually rising (+5%). In total, more than 11K Michels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Michel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Michel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Michel
What does the name Michel mean?
How popular is Michel in 2026?
When was Michel most popular?
In which U.S. states is Michel most popular?
Is Michel a unisex name?
What names go well with Michel?
About the name Michel
Michel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 11K births in the dataset. Michel's peak popularity came in 1957 when it ranked #457. Use the chart and map above to compare Michel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1957 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.