Michelle

Michelle: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning: “who is like God?”
Origin: French
Say it: mee-SHEL · 2 syllables
Used for: Girls

French feminine form of Michel, from Hebrew Michael. Widely used in English as well as French.

French names English names Names meaning faith Classic names International names

How popular is Michelle?

2024232 per million US babies

Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Compare with another name

Babies named Michelle in 2024772

2024 rank#409 girls

Peak year1969

Total US babies since 1880819,099

Michelle is fading: recent use is about 44% of its level ten years before.

Names like Michelle

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

Shellyfrom the ledge meadow · English
Michelwho is like God · French
Michellwho is like God? · Hebrew
Shellimeadow on a ledge · English
Charlottefree man · French
Eleanormeaning uncertain · French
Eloisehealthy; wide · French
Claireclear, bright · French

Michelle questions

What does the name Michelle mean?

Michelle means "who is like God?". It comes from French. French feminine form of Michel, from Hebrew Michael. Widely used in English as well as French.

Is Michelle a boy or girl name?

Michelle is mainly a girl's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Michelle?

772 US babies were named Michelle in 2024. Its peak year was 1969.

How do you pronounce Michelle?

Michelle is usually pronounced mee-SHEL.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.