Michael

#7,885 for girls in 2025, 13 births · #21 for boys in 2025, 8,094 births
Given to boys 99.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
#1
1957 · 92,781 births
Debut · boys
1880
354 births
In top 100 · boys
146 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
4,426,753
since 1880

Michael over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201931peak #1, 1957boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#7,88513#218,094
2024#6,93216#188,229
2023#5,96020#168,430
2022#6,22919#168,895
2021#4,83327#179,150
2020#5,16824#129,833
2019#4,26033#1410,619
2018#6,01020#1411,756
2017#4,22034#1212,726
2016#4,25034#814,145
2015#4,06936#914,504
2014#4,17835#715,505
2013#3,84939#715,544
2012#5,11427#716,211
2011#4,07236#616,823
2010#4,02337#317,387
2009#3,56145#318,964
2008#3,08455#220,652
2007#3,24752#222,027
2006#2,75764#222,653
2005#2,73161#223,828
2004#1,404148#225,470
2003#1,92594#227,129
2002#1,86695#228,258
2001#1,83396#229,689
2000#1,558114#232,045
1999#1,422123#233,915
1998#1,359128#136,618
1997#1,249142#137,562
1996#1,155157#138,373
1995#1,067167#141,409
1994#965192#144,477
1993#870223#149,571
1992#789258#154,410
1991#769267#160,810
1990#747277#165,321
1989#594363#165,415
1988#472480#164,171
1987#410544#163,664
1986#392590#164,235
1985#419531#164,934
1984#419508#167,735
1983#385577#168,004
1982#403576#168,216
1981#439487#168,750
1980#409546#168,683
1979#393554#167,713
1978#384545#167,127
1977#378560#167,587
1976#398515#166,915
1975#373557#168,418
1974#392525#167,534
1973#431451#167,797
1972#431452#171,393
1971#448459#177,577
1970#461457#185,266
1969#449459#185,162
1968#440471#181,968
1967#494373#182,411
1966#509346#179,985
1965#504355#180,992
1964#565303#182,617
1963#501376#183,771
1962#519356#185,059
1961#546324#186,974
1960#547316#284,153
1959#587285#185,294
1958#572295#190,604
1957#611255#192,781
1956#620238#190,691
1955#577250#188,355
1954#616217#188,568
1953#581232#384,198
1952#644190#479,037
1951#668172#472,807
1950#640179#465,136
1949#602188#560,047
1948#637170#652,566
1947#635173#750,506
1946#611169#741,194
1945#583158#929,902
1944#562168#926,717
1943#550188#1024,745
1942#593156#1321,728
1941#71397#1615,935
1940#79080#1813,228
1939#76381#1810,828
1938#93158#219,077
1937#1,03547#277,094
1936#1,11540#335,800
1935#1,26432#414,906
1934#1,69720#474,108
1933#1,44226#533,549
1932#1,75420#543,607
1931#1,54924#553,489
1930#1,25136#543,543
1929#1,30633#543,464
1928#1,33833#533,598
1927#1,52329#523,605
1926#1,41432#563,485
1925#1,37634#553,761
1924#1,35436#543,874
1923#1,52029#503,915
1922#1,46431#483,990
1921#1,76524#474,198
1920#1,81622#504,003
1919#1,64924#463,909
1918#1,41130#454,296
1917#2,55212#444,288
1916#1,86718#444,210
1915#2,14314#434,079
1914#1,66516#403,362
1913#1,76612#402,607
1912#2,1448#422,104
1911#1,9567#381,159
1910#1,6349#45844
1909#1,7637#47635
1908—#44688
1907—#48586
1906#1,9515#46531
1905—#45513
1904—#50462
1903—#47466
1902—#48460
1901—#52384
1900—#51495
1899—#51375
1898—#51434
1897#1,2637#57368
1896—#53399
1895—#52413
1894—#50423
1893—#49407
1892—#59380
1891—#54333
1890—#48394
1889—#51377
1888—#46466
1887—#48344
1886—#53348
1885—#46370
1884—#51373
1883—#55307
1882—#57321
1881—#54298
1880—#46354
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Michael was already there! It came in at #46, and was given to 354 baby boys.

Quietest stretch: 1880–1887, when fewer than 380 boys a year got the name.

Where Michael is popular in 1931

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Michael, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Michael, so not publishedMEVermont: #86 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 420 boysVTNew Hampshire: #72 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 375 boysNHWashington: #115 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 579 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Michael, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Michael, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #117 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 487 boysNDMinnesota: #92 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 406 boysMNIllinois: #44 for boys · 245 births · 1 in 220 boysILWisconsin: #82 for boys · 60 births · 1 in 392 boysWIMichigan: #68 for boys · 120 births · 1 in 324 boysMINew York: #18 for boys · 977 births · 1 in 92 boysNYMassachusetts: #38 for boys · 175 births · 1 in 170 boysMARhode Island: #32 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 126 boysRIOregon: #144 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 901 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Michael, so not publishedNVWyoming: #73 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 260 boysWYSouth Dakota: #167 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 928 boysSDIowa: #136 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 702 boysIAIndiana: #101 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 530 boysINOhio: #58 for boys · 152 births · 1 in 316 boysOHPennsylvania: #26 for boys · 649 births · 1 in 118 boysPANew Jersey: #16 for boys · 323 births · 1 in 84 boysNJConnecticut: #20 for boys · 135 births · 1 in 79 boysCTCalifornia: #67 for boys · 106 births · 1 in 343 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Michael, so not publishedUTColorado: #168 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 943 boysCONebraska: #121 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 541 boysNEMissouri: #141 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 905 boysMOKentucky: #377 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 4,124 boysKYWest Virginia: #180 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,157 boysWVVirginia: #220 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,758 boysVAMaryland: #61 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 306 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Michael, so not publishedDEArizona: #120 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 451 boysAZNew Mexico: #163 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 650 boysNMKansas: #149 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 898 boysKSArkansas: fewer than 5 boys named Michael, so not publishedARTennessee: #295 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,041 boysTNNorth Carolina: #237 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,977 boysNCSouth Carolina: #217 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,642 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #35 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 152 boysDCOklahoma: #333 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,608 boysOKLouisiana: #139 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 658 boysLAMississippi: fewer than 5 boys named Michael, so not publishedMSAlabama: #463 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 5,157 boysALGeorgia: #348 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,901 boysGAHawaii: #80 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 357 boysHITexas: #336 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 2,400 boysTXFlorida: #188 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,124 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. New Jersey#16 · 1 in 84
  2. New York#18 · 1 in 92
  3. Connecticut#20 · 1 in 79
  4. Pennsylvania#26 · 1 in 118
  5. Rhode Island#32 · 1 in 126

Best ever in a state: #1 in Hawaii, 1948.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New Jersey#163231 in 84
New York#189771 in 92
Connecticut#201351 in 79
Pennsylvania#266491 in 118
Rhode Island#32361 in 126
District of Columbia#35231 in 152
Massachusetts#381751 in 170
Illinois#442451 in 220
Ohio#581521 in 316
Maryland#61381 in 306
California#671061 in 343
Michigan#681201 in 324
New Hampshire#7281 in 375
Wyoming#7361 in 260
Hawaii#8091 in 357
Wisconsin#82601 in 392
Vermont#8661 in 420
Minnesota#92491 in 406
Indiana#101451 in 530
Washington#115161 in 579
North Dakota#117121 in 487
Arizona#12091 in 451
Nebraska#121211 in 541
Iowa#136271 in 702
Louisiana#139281 in 658
Missouri#141301 in 905
Oregon#14461 in 901
Kansas#149161 in 898
New Mexico#16371 in 650
South Dakota#16761 in 928
Colorado#16891 in 943
West Virginia#180141 in 1,157
Florida#188101 in 1,124
South Carolina#217101 in 1,642
Virginia#220121 in 1,758
North Carolina#237161 in 1,977
Tennessee#29581 in 3,041
Oklahoma#33361 in 3,608
Texas#336231 in 2,400
Georgia#34871 in 3,901
Kentucky#37761 in 4,124
Alabama#46351 in 5,157
Alaska———
Arkansas———
Delaware———
Idaho———
Maine———
Mississippi———
Montana———
Nevada———
Utah———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Michael
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 3 spots since 2024 (#18 → #21)
  • 9 spots since 2020 (#12 → #21)
  • 12 spots since 2015 (#9 → #21)
  • Biggest jump: 10 spots in 1893 (#59 → #49)
  • Biggest drop: 8 spots in 1881 (#46 → #54)
Rise & fade · boys
77 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1957 at #1 (92,781 births)
  • Births halved by 1994, 37 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 10 for 74 yrs
  • Top 10: 74 yrs · run 1943–2016
  • Top 100: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 21
  • Highest: 1 in 21 boys born in 1969 were named Michael (4.8%)
  • Latest: 1 in 211 boys born in 2025 (0.47%)
  • Its best rank, #1 in 1957, was only 1 in 23 (4.3%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 18.9% of all boys named Michael (837,471) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s3,558#46 (1888)#51
1890s3,926#48 (1890)#52
1900s5,220#44 (1908)#48
1910s30,858#38 (1911)#43
1920s37,893#47 (1921)#52
1930s56,001#18 (1939)#40
1940s336,568#5 (1949)#10
1950s837,471#1 (1957)#2
1960s833,092#1 (1961)#1
1970s707,327#1 (1970)#1
1980s663,807#1 (1981)#1
1990s462,466#1 (1990)#1
2000s250,715#2 (2000)#2
2010s145,220#3 (2010)#9
2020s52,631#12 (2020)#17

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Michael in 1931

girls
#1,549
24 births · 1 in 44,364 girls
boys
#55
3,489 births · 1 in 298 boys

Top girls' names in 1931

  1. #1Mary60,299
  2. #2Betty36,105
  3. #3Dorothy26,524
  4. #4Barbara21,804
  5. #5Joan19,119
  6. #6Helen17,664
  7. #7Margaret17,332
  8. #8Patricia16,469
  9. #9Shirley14,405
  10. #10Doris13,629
  11. #1,549Michael24

Top boys' names in 1931

  1. #1Robert60,519
  2. #2James51,212
  3. #3John48,423
  4. #4William43,280
  5. #5Richard31,822
  6. #6Charles29,934
  7. #7Donald29,100
  8. #8George20,685
  9. #9Joseph19,326
  10. #10Thomas16,847
  11. #55Michael3,489
More about 1931

girls

1,064,728 girls got a published name in 1931; 1 in 44,364 of them was named Michael, which outranked 68.9% of the 4,979 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Michael
  1. #1,502Willard25
  2. #1,502Zetta25
  3. #1,502Zulema25
  4. #1,549Michael24
  5. #1,549Adaline24
  6. #1,549Almira24
  7. #1,549Annalee24
  8. #1,594Alvena23
  9. #1,594Alverna23
  10. #1,594Amber23

Tied with 44 names at #1,549; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1930
Risers
  1. ↑ 857Joretta#1,320 → #463
  2. ↑ 519Joetta#1,460 → #941
  3. ↑ 483Sondra#1,031 → #548
  4. ↑ 465Celine#1,460 → #995
  5. ↑ 343Lynne#1,274 → #931
Fallers
  1. ↓ 377Margo#937 → #1,314
  2. ↓ 349Rachael#894 → #1,243
  3. ↓ 317Evelyne#926 → #1,243
  4. ↓ 287Vivien#971 → #1,258
  5. ↓ 283Ardeth#629 → #912

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,039,665 boys got a published name in 1931; 1 in 298 of them was named Michael, which outranked 98.7% of the 4,321 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Michael
  1. #52Leroy3,649
  2. #53Roger3,625
  3. #54Bernard3,514
  4. #55Michael3,489
  5. #56Samuel3,379
  6. #57Bill3,218
  7. #58Wayne3,217
Biggest movers since 1930
Risers
  1. ↑ 794Kenton#1,753 → #959
  2. ↑ 420Wyman#1,330 → #910
  3. ↑ 408Jan#1,330 → #922
  4. ↑ 402Leopold#1,399 → #997
  5. ↑ 398Odie#1,299 → #901
Fallers
  1. ↓ 513Artie#976 → #1,489
  2. ↓ 469Arnulfo#892 → #1,361
  3. ↓ 385Rose#832 → #1,217
  4. ↓ 357Ransom#976 → #1,333
  5. ↓ 343Jodie#990 → #1,333

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1931 →