Michelle
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
819,099 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1969 Peak Popularity Year
34,457 Peak Births

Michelle Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

Michelle is of French origin and means 'who is like God?'. It evolved from the Hebrew Mikha'el through Latin and Old French. The name is perceived as elegant and modern, with significant historical usage in the 20th century. It has no direct biblical relevance.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Michelle"

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Pronunciation

/mɪˈʃɛl/

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Origin

French

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Etymology

Michelle is the French feminine form of Michel, which is derived from the Hebrew name Mikha'el, meaning 'who is like God?'

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Meaning

who is like God

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Language Evolution

Mikha'el (Hebrew), Michael (Latin, Greek), Michel (Old French), Michelle (Modern French)

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Historical Usage

Michelle gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in the United States and other English-speaking countries, largely influenced by the rise of French culture and the popularity of the name Michael.

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Variants & Derivatives

Michele, Mikaela, Misha, Shelly

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Modern Popularity & Image

Michelle is often associated with elegance and sophistication, and it has remained a popular name in various cultures. It conveys a sense of modernity and style.

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Famous People

Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Pfeiffer, American actress, Michelle Williams, American actress and singer

📊 Michelle Name Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Declining
25-Year Trend: Gradually Declining

Explore More Michelle Name Visualizations

✨ Michelle Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 34,457 peak births in 1969

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Alaska

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 11 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Michelle" - Complete Guide (17 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Michelle". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 17 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Michelle" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Michelle"

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 of "Michelle"

"Michelle" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 1894th of 7552 330
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 790th of 10718 1,696
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 1353rd of 16616 1,015
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 5826th of 24088 209
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 4076th of 9107 89
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Girl 668th of 9204 2,050
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 69th of 12526 117,294
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 3rd of 19264 409,998
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 21st of 27321 204,881
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 74th of 35406 66,721
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Girl 261st of 30306 14,816

Regional Popularity of "Michelle" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - -
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
63.27%
1409th/2227
67.94%
1651st/2430
- 46.88%
1301st/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
23.80%
699th/2937
18.78%
654th/3483
28.31%
996th/3518
22.21%
898th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
42.82%
1578th/3685
26.61%
1191st/4475
30.02%
1559th/5194
16.12%
1018th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
71.85%
3292nd/4582
- - 44.14%
3294th/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

Regional Popularity of "Michelle" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- 100.00%
1379th/1379
- -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
35.25%
545th/1546
30.27%
471st/1556
44.11%
1038th/2353
25.86%
400th/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
2.65%
59th/2227
2.43%
59th/2430
4.28%
122nd/2853
1.44%
40th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
0.10%
3rd/2937
0.09%
3rd/3483
0.23%
8th/3518
0.05%
2nd/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
0.57%
21st/3685
0.34%
15th/4475
0.56%
29th/5194
0.17%
11th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
2.55%
117th/4582
1.24%
64th/5164
1.19%
87th/7313
0.51%
38th/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
10.14%
404th/3984
5.10%
229th/4487
3.86%
263rd/6822
2.98%
187th/6276

State-by-State Popularity of "Michelle"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Michelle" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Michelle" in the United States

The name Michelle is most popular in Alaska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Michelle has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, too rising for female in West. Across generations, 'Michelle' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1894th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 790th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1353rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5826th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4076th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 668th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 69th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 21st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 74th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 261st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Michelle' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Michelle name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Michelle,
Infographic: Michelle same pronunciation names, similar names, and homophone names
[600x500px image] Michelle same pronunciation names, similar names, and homophone names