The story behind Michael
English Michael From Middle English Michael, from Old French Michel, Old English Michahel, from their source Latin Michaēl, Michāhēl, from Ancient Greek Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl), from Biblical Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (mîḵāʾēl, literally “who is like God?”). Doublet of Miguel and Mikhail.
Other language forms and explanations (5)
Czech entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Michāēl, borrowed from Koine Greek Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl), borrowed from Biblical Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (mīḵāʾēl, “Michael”, literally “Who is like God?”), from מִי (mí, “who”) + כַּ־ (ka-, “like”) + אֵל (él, “God”).
French entry
Borrowed from English Michael.
German entry
From Vulgate Latin Michaēl, Michahēl, from Biblical Hebrew מיכאל (mikhael, literally “who is like God?”).
Italian entry
Borrowed from English Michael.
Italian entry
Borrowed from German Michael.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈmaɪkəl/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: [ˈmɐɪ.kɫ̩]
- Northeast: /ˈmaɪɡəl/
- Northeast: [ˈmɐɪ.ɡɫ̩]
- Nuyorican: /ˈmaɪɡō/
- Nuyorican: [ˈmɐɪ.ɡo̞ʊ]
- Czech: [ˈmɪxaɛl]
- French: /mi.ka.ɛl/
- French: /maj.kœl/
- German: /ˈmɪçaˌeːl/
- German: [ˈmɪ.çaˌ(ʔ)eːl]
- German: [-ˌ(ʔ)ɛl]
- Italian: /ˈmaj.kol/
- Italian: /ˈmi.ka.el/
- Italian: /ˈmi.xa.el/
Popularity
Michael ranked #8188 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Michael
Mabel
Clipping of Amabel, from Latin amābilis (“lovable”). Borrowed from English Mabel.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Māykal
From English Michael. Doublet of مِيكَائِيل (mīkāʔīl), مِيخَائِيل (mīḵāʔīl).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Michaël
Borrowed from Dutch Michaël. From Vulgar Latin Michaēl, found in the Vulgate Bible, from Classical Latin Michahēl, from Biblical Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (mîḵāʾēl, literally “who is…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Michal
From Hebrew מִיכַל (mikhál, “Michal”). a male given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Michael From Vulgate Latin Michael, from Biblical Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (mîḵāʾēl,…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Micheal
Anglicised form of Irish Mícheál or Scottish Gaelic Mìcheal. Also a spelling variant of Michael, generally considered erroneous.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Micheál
From Latin Michael, Michahel, from Biblical Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (mîḵāʾēl, “who is like God?”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Michael
Aabraham
From Biblical Hebrew אברהם ('aḇrāhām), of Biblical origin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aapeli
Vernacular form of the biblical Abel or Aabel, from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abdia
Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew עוֹבַדְיָה (ovadya).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Michael
Aabraham
From Biblical Hebrew אברהם ('aḇrāhām), of Biblical origin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aamos
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew עמוס (Amos).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aapeli
Vernacular form of the biblical Abel or Aabel, from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length