Girl · 42nd of 19,264
Michele
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
226,031
Total Births
145
Years of Data
1968
Peak Popularity Year
11,281
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Michele stands across generations
Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.
Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.
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Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity
Summary
Michele is an Italian name derived from the Hebrew Mikha'el, meaning 'who is like God?'. It evolved through Latin and has historical roots in religious traditions. The name is associated with elegance and remains popular today, while not having any direct biblical relevance. Notable people with this name include Michele Obama and Michele Pfeiffer.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/miˈʃɛl/
Origin
Italian
Etymology
Michele is the Italian form of Michael, which is derived from the Hebrew name Mikha'el, meaning 'who is like God?'
Meaning
Who is like God?
Language Evolution
Mikha'el (Hebrew), Michael (Latin), Michele (Italian)
Historical Usage
Michele gained popularity in Italy and among Italian-speaking communities during the Middle Ages, particularly as it was associated with religious figures, including archangels.
Variants & Derivatives
Michael, Michela, Mikael, Mikhail
Modern Popularity & Image
Michele is commonly perceived as a classic and elegant name, still popular in Italy and among Italian descendants worldwide.
Famous People
Michele Obama (American lawyer and author), Michele Pfeiffer (American actress), Michele Bachelet (Chilean politician)
Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Explore popularity by location
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 11,281 peak births in 1968
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in New Jersey
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
Alternative spellings & similar sounds
Compare 17 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Full popularity table across American generations 14 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1796th of 7545 | 295 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2559th of 6773 | 163 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1471st of 7552 | 536 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1055th of 10718 | 942 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2143rd of 16616 | 499 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5282nd of 24088 | 242 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 9297th of 23106 | 86 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3371st of 9107 | 131 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 449th of 9204 | 4,414 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 98th of 12526 | 84,960 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 42nd of 19264 | 110,589 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 226th of 27321 | 19,911 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1267th of 35406 | 2,787 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3825th of 30306 | 476 |