The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Michael!

Comments and insights on the name Michael: | Edit

This is the ultimate "safe" boy's name. Could be any age, any race; no negative associations.

(Except the Mickey Mouse thing.)

Personal experiences with the name Michael: | Edit

Michael is he only name I know whose meaning is actually a question, not a definitive statement.

My dad's name is Michael, but he goes by Mike. After he was born my grandfather liked it so much that he, too, decided to go by Mike.

Nicknames for Michael: | Edit

Mike, Mickey, Mick, Mitch, Mikey, (all mostly Irish), Miguel (Spanish) Miguelito, Mikaël, Mika'il /Mikaal (German), מיכאל (Hebrew), ميكائيل (Arab), Mikael (Finnish: short form Mika)

Meanings and history of the name Michael: | Edit

The most common men's name of the past two to three generations, 'Michael' is unusual in that its' meaning is actually a question ("Who is like unto God?") and not a definitive statement. It's origin is Hebrew.

The first mention of the name Michael in history is in the Bible (Numbers 13:13) referring to one of the seven archangels.

Famous real-life people named Michael: | Edit

Michael Bublé, singer
Michael Caine, actor
Michael Douglas, actor
Michael Dukakis, politician
Michael J. Fox, actor and activist
Michael Franks, jazz singer
Michael Graves, designer
Michael Jackson, Pop star
Mick (Michael Philip) Jagger, Singer
Michael Jordan, basketball star
Mike Tyson, Boxer
Michael Johnson, Gold medalist and track star
Michael Moore, Boxer
Michael spinks, Boxer
Mike Miller, Basketball player
Mike Modano, hockey player
Michael Keaton, actor/comedian
Michael Moore, filmmaker
Michael Musto, gossip columnist
Michael Nesmith, musician, actor and video producer
Michael Palin, actor and writer
Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer
Michael Pollan, botanist and author
Michael Stipe, singer
Michael York, actor
Michael Angelo, Famous Painter
Michael Young, Baseball player
Mike Weir, Golfer
Michael Campbell, Golfer
Mike Ditka, Famous coach and athlete
Mike singletary, football player/coach

Michael in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Michael Row the Boat Ashore"
John Travolta angel movie "Michael"
Picture book "Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel"
'Mikey Likes It!' Famous Life Cereal commercial from the 1970s
Michael Dawson, character in the TV series, "Lost"
Archangel in the Bible
"Be like Mike" ad campaign about Michael Jordan.
Mike Tee Vee from Willy Wonka's golden ticket contest.
Michael Darling, youngest of the Darling children in Peter Pan
Michael Scott, character in the TV series "The Office"
Mike & The Mechanics, 80s/90s band
Michael (Jason Patric) in 1987's "The Lost Boys"
Michael Corleone, charcter in the godfather.