Michelle Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

Michelle Name Meaning and Origin

Originally a variant of Michèle, Michelle is a given name and a surname extensively used in both the English-speaking and French-speaking countries of the world. It is also used as the French feminine form of Michel originating from the Hebrew name Mihka’el or Michael meaning “Who is like God?” Michelle’s French-sounding –Elle ending might give it a unique touch that makes it strikingly attractive and the center of attention in a crowd. Michaela is another feminine form of Michael.

What Does Michelle Mean? 

An anglicized version of the French Michele, the meaning of Michelle is “who resembles God.” The meaning of Michelle has a strong religious link that makes it quite appealing to the Christian-speaking nations of the world.

Origin 

Michelle appeared as a later Anglicized name in the 20th century. After taking off in the 1940s, this name was reinvigorated with a love song of the same name in 1965 by the Beatles. The alternate spelling Michele, with one “L,” was the original version of the name. The name gained suitable mileage with media attention on the former first lady Michelle Obama.

Gender 

Female

Pronunciation 

  • M(i)-chelle
  • Mich(el)-le
  • Mih-shell

Syllables 

 2 syllables

Length/Letter 

 8 letters

Name Variations/Spellings 

Variations of Michelle may not connect via style, image, meaning, or origin but have become equally significant in other languages and cultures of the world. The following is a list of other spellings for Michelle and Michelle name variations that offer the most excellent alternatives to the traditional baby names for your beloved baby.

Name Origin
Micel Albanian
Michala Czech
Mikaele Finnish
Michalina Polish
Mihaela Romanian
Miguela Spanish
Mikaela Swedish
Misheru Japanese
Mishel Georgian
Mikkeline Danish

How Popular Is the Name Michelle? 

Michelle has been used in the United States ever since 1915, with over 817298 girls given the name in the past 200 years. The Michelle popularity index as a baby name began in 1966, with about 27151 babies named Michelle. This was about 0.7941% of the baby girls born in the USA that year. It reached its highest ranking at the 2nd spot for the first time in 1968 and 1972. In 1969, around 34,322 babies were named Michelle. In 2018, the Michelle baby name ranking stood at the 263rd spot as the most popular girls’ name in the United States. Sometimes more popular as a girl’s name and sometimes more popular boy’s name, Michelle has been spiraling downward for some time now, with fewer parents selecting Michelle for their newborn.

Interest in Michelle – Worldwide

trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“TIMESERIES”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”Michelle”,”geo”:””,”time”:”2011-11-11 2021-11-11″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2011-11-11%202021-11-11&q=Michelle”,”guestPath”:”https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/”}); A consistent search value of over 60 has been recorded on interest for the name Michelle reaching 100 in July 2012. The lowest recorded value was at 42 on July 2021 and August 2021.

Interest in Michelle – the US

trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“TIMESERIES”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”Charles”,”geo”:”US”,”time”:”2011-09-19 2021-09-11″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2011-09-19%202021-09-11&geo=US&q=Charles”,”guestPath”:”https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/”}); Search trends for the name Michelle show a search value of over 40 reaching 100 in Sept 2021. It scored the lowest value of 41 on Oct 2020 and Sept 2021.

Popularity of Name Michelle 

URL: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi

Where Is the Name Most Searched?

Search trends of Michelle – Worldwide

trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“GEO_MAP”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”Michelle”,”geo”:””,”time”:”2011-11-11 2021-11-11″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2011-11-11%202021-11-11&q=Michelle”,”guestPath”:”https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/”}); Interest in the name Michelle has been seen to be highest in Ireland in the past ten years, followed by the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, which have found a place in the top five positions. As Ireland today is a multi-cultural society where Christianity is the primary faith that plays a vital role in the societal make-up of the country, the name Michelle has become extremely popular there.

Search trends of Michelle in the US

trends.embed.renderExploreWidget(“GEO_MAP”, {“comparisonItem”:[{“keyword”:”Michelle”,”geo”:”US”,”time”:”2011-11-11 2021-11-11″}],”category”:0,”property”:””}, {“exploreQuery”:”date=2011-11-11%202021-11-11&geo=US&q=Michelle”,”guestPath”:”https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/”}); Among the sub-regions in the US, maximum searches for the name Michelle have been registered in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York over the last ten years. 

Middle Names That Go With Michelle 

Middle names are choices that can make great name combinations for your children. Here are some of the best double names with Michelle that offer a great way to give your baby’s name a modern twist:

Eve Fay
Paige Rae
Ruth Dawn
Wren Sage
Sydney Sky
Leah Frances
Lydia Evangeline
Juliet Sophia
Sabina Shiloh
Serena Simone
Lynn Brooklyn

Famous People Named Michelle 

Most famous personalities set a specific benchmark to be followed by their predecessors. Here is a list of some of the most prominent personalities named Michelle, who have become famous by making invaluable contributions in their respective professional fields: 

Celebrity Name Profession/Famous For
Michelle Rodriguez American Actress
Michelle Williams American Actress
Michelle Obama Former First Lady of the US
Michelle McNamara American Writer
Michelle Waterson American Mixed Martial Artist
Michelle Yeoh Malaysian Actress
Michelle Visage  American Singer, Radio DJ
Michelle Wolf American Comedian
Michelle Borth Actress
Michelle Monaghan American Actress
Michelle Hunziker Swiss-Italian TV Hostess, Actress

Similar Names & Last Names 

Baby-names like Michelle may make the perfect name combinations for your child. Michelle’s family names can instill a sense of pride and honor in your ancestral name. These are some of the other names for Michelle that might become an instant hit among parents:

Other Baby Names Suitable Family Names
Danielle Ashley
Kimberly Monroe
Melissa Hansley
Lisa Raven
Stephanie West
Kristen Ellis
Nicole Hope
Jessica Bardot
Allison Levine
Tamara St James
Leslie Lopez

Names That Sound Like Michelle

Names that rhyme with Michelle has a lyrical feel and quality that never feels outdated. The following are some suggestions for names that sound like Michelle to work well as the original name:

Michie Micole
Mickee Michalla
Micheala Michayla
Michelene Michala
Michaila Michelina
Micki Micaiah
Michiko Michellene
Micah Michalin
Mical Michi
Michiyo Michele

Sibling Names Related to Michelle

From adorable to off-beat, the sweetest sibling names can be based on a common theme that may help a family to stay together for years to come. These are some of the best sibling names that go with Michelle to help create a bond of togetherness:

Sister Names for Michelle Brother Names for Michelle
Melissa David
Jennifer  Terry
Lisa Jordan
Sarah Brian
Christina Matthew
Amanda John
Kim Christopher 
Shannon Alex
Kerry Jackie
Emily Leslie
Olivia Ryan
Chloe William

Nicknames For Michelle

Nicknames are pet forms of a name representing the original name as creative compliments. Here is a roundup of some of the best nicknames for the name Michelle that all family members can share to call out a baby within a family unit:

Elle Shelly Pelly
Chelle Mishe
Miche Shelby
Michi Mechi
Shelly Chela
Chel Mickey
Shell Michy Bear
Mich Shay
Mimi Michu
Mica Maia
Michy Boo Meli

Whether they make parents happy and proud or teach them to be more patient and forgiving, children are a true gift of God. Despite the drop in its popularity in recent years, a name like Michelle, with its beautiful meaning, can truly stand the test of time and regain its former glory in the popularity charts.

Sources/References

Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
Michelle Name Popularity in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-11-11%202021-11-11&geo=US&q=Michelle
Michelle Name Popularity Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-11-11%202021-11-11&q=Michelle
Michelle Name Interest in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-11-11%202021-11-11&geo=US&q=Michelle
Michelle Name Interest Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-11-11%202021-11-11&q=Michelle

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