The first name Michel
A unisex name from French meaning “who is like god?”.
Pronounced /mɪˈʃɛl/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
French origin
Michel means “who is like god?” in French.
Either a reborrowing of French Michel or a continuation (with pronunciation influenced by Modern French) of Middle English Michel, both from Old French Michel, from Latin Michāēl, borrowed from Koine Greek Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl), from Biblical Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (mîḵāʾēl, literally “who is like God?”). Doublet of Michael, Miguel, and Mikhail.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Michel last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 4 boys. It peaked in 2007, with 9 births (#2,023).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Michel with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Michel at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 22 boys born in the United States were named Michel, the 4,642nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1957, when 284 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Mish
Famous people named Michel
371 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Michel de MontaigneFrench author, philosopher, and statesman (1533–1592)
- Michel FoucaultFrench philosopher (1926–1984)
- Michel PlatiniFrench football player, manager and executive (born 1955)
- Michel Temer24th Vice-President of Brazil from 2011 to 2016 and 37th President of Brazil from 2016 to
- Michel HouellebecqFrench writer, born 1956
- Michel Aoun13th President of Lebanon from 2016 to 2022
- Michel SognyFrench pianist, born 1947
- Michel BarnierFormer Prime Minister of France (2024)
- Michel HazanaviciusFrench film director, producer and screenwriter, born 1967
- Michel NeyFrench general (1769–1815)
- Michel PiccoliFrench actor (1925–2020)
- Michel LegrandFrench film score composer (1932–2019)
More French unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Michel mean?
- Michel means “who is like god?” in French.
- What is the origin of the name Michel?
- Either a reborrowing of French Michel or a continuation (with pronunciation influenced by Modern French) of Middle English Michel, both from Old French Michel, from Latin Michāēl, borrowed from Koine Greek Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl), from Biblical Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (mîḵāʾēl, literally “who is like God?”).…
- How popular is the name Michel?
- In 2024, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Michel, ranking 4,270th. Its peak was 2007, with 9 births.
- Is Michel a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 14,094 US babies named Michel since 1880, 25% were girls and 75% boys.
- When was Michel most popular?
- 1957 in the United States, when 284 babies were named Michel, its highest rank at 458th.
- How do you pronounce Michel?
- Michel is /mɪˈʃɛl/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Michel?
- Mish.
- Is Michel also a surname?
- Yes. Michel is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.