How Many People Are Named Michael?
Complete statistics for the name Michael: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Michael means 'who is like God' and has been a very common name for centuries. It's estimated that 1 in 91 Americans today are named Michael, making up 3,614,428 people. The majority of these folks are over 60, showing how popular the name was back in its peak year of 1957.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, the life path number 33 is associated with spiritual leadership and humanitarian efforts.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 54All 4,440,037 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1957Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Michael Through the Generations
Michael has been a staple in American naming trends since the late 19th century, reaching its zenith in 1957 when 93,041 babies were given this name. Over the decades, it's seen a steady decline, but it still holds a significant place in the hearts of many, with nearly half of those named Michael being over 60 years old. This age distribution paints a picture of a name deeply rooted in tradition and nostalgia, yet it continues to be recognized by younger generations too.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Michael
Michael is a common masculine given name usually thought to be from the Hebrew rhetorical question מי כאל, "Who [is] like [the Hebrew god] El?", thus being a theophoric name whose answer is "there is none like El", or "there is none as famous and powerful as God." This question is known in Latin as Quis ut Deus? Paradoxically, the name is also sometimes interpreted as "One who is like God."…
Full list on Wikipedia →✨ Similar Names to Michael
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Michael's Hebrew roots
📄 About the Name Michael
How Many People Have the Name Michael?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 37,760 people in the United States currently share the name Michael. That works out to roughly 1 in every 8,778 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Michael a Common or Rare Name?
Michael is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Michael Mean?
Michael means "who is like God" and comes from Hebrew origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 33.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Michael in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Michael Most Popular?
The name Michael reached peak popularity in 1957, with 93,041 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Michael?
Approximately 37,760 people named Michael live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 37,760. That works out to roughly 1 in 8,778 Americans.
Is Michael a rare name?
Michael is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 8,778 Americans has this name.
What does the name Michael mean?
Michael means "who is like God" and comes from Hebrew origins.
Is Michael more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Michael are male and 1% are female.
When was Michael most popular?
Michael peaked in 1957 with 93,041 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.