The Baby Name Wizard

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

Comments and insights on the name Michelle: | Edit

Slate claims Michelle is Washington's power name for women... but BabyNameWizard.com says that honor goes to Barbara or Diane.
http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2008/11/the-power-of-michelle

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It's very interesting to see the life cycle of a name. It starts out as a unique, virtually unknown name with roots in history. Then, it gets picked up by a few trendy families. Other families pick up on those, and all of a sudden it's extremely popular! There's some years of that, then it passes out of use, then into middle names. Michelle is one of those names that is now a middle name, in my opinion. I know TONS of middle aged Michelles and a lot of age 20 and down women/girls with Michelle/Michele as their middle name (Alyssa Michele, Dominique Michele, Hannah Michelle, Brianna Michelle, Leah Michelle, Elise Michelle, Alexandra Michelle). Another one of these names I'm seeing is Lauren. I know a lot of Laurens in their 20s or so or in their late-mid teens, but I am seeing a lot of new babies with Lauren as a middle name (Talia Lauren, Arabella Lauren, Emma Lauren). A name I see heading into this stage is Olivia. This name is sort of an exception because, right now, it's in the height of its popularity. I see just a few girls with Olivia as a middle name (Jade Olivia, Danielle Olivia), but that's more than I can say for some other names. Sorry for my rambling, I just found that interesting.

Personal experiences with the name Michelle: | Edit

mom

My cousin's name is Allison Michelle. She usually goes by Allie, but she went through this phase where she wanted to go by Michelle because the Olsen twins played Michelle Tanner on Full house. Michelle turned to Michy (Me-she), then Miley (?), and finally Allichelle, until she finally got over it and went by Allie again.

Nicknames for Michelle: | Edit

Mitchie, Mickie, Mish, Shell, Shelly, Shelley, Chelle, Mickey, Mich, Michy

Meanings and history of the name Michelle: | Edit

The meaning to the name Michelle is actually a question not a word. Michelle means "Who is like God?"

The Origin of the name is French.

Alternate spellings include: Mechelle, Michele, and Mechele

Famous real-life people named Michelle: | Edit

Michelle Obama, First Lady
Michelle Williams, actress (Dawson's Creek, Brokeback Mountain)
Michelle Pfeiffer, actress
Michele Lee, actress
Michelle Yeoh, actress
Michelle Trachtenberg, actress
Michelle Phillips, actress, singer, and member of The Mamas and The Papas
Michelle Monaghan, actress
Michelle Rodriguez, actress
Michelle Ryan, actress
Michelle Leslie, model
Michelle Kwan, figure skater
Michelle Duggar, reality TV star (TLC's "18 Kids and Counting")

Michelle in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Michelle" by the Beatles.
"My Michelle" by Guns'n'Roses