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
1957 · 92,781 births
Debut · boys
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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201947peak #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 1947

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #6 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 25 boysAKMaine: #6 for boys · 304 births · 1 in 35 boysMEVermont: #7 for boys · 131 births · 1 in 30 boysVTNew Hampshire: #8 for boys · 183 births · 1 in 33 boysNHWashington: #4 for boys · 1,080 births · 1 in 25 boysWAIdaho: #7 for boys · 202 births · 1 in 34 boysIDMontana: #8 for boys · 188 births · 1 in 34 boysMTNorth Dakota: #11 for boys · 163 births · 1 in 46 boysNDMinnesota: #6 for boys · 1,295 births · 1 in 27 boysMNIllinois: #6 for boys · 3,431 births · 1 in 27 boysILWisconsin: #7 for boys · 1,599 births · 1 in 24 boysWIMichigan: #5 for boys · 2,969 births · 1 in 26 boysMINew York: #6 for boys · 5,598 births · 1 in 28 boysNYMassachusetts: #9 for boys · 1,550 births · 1 in 34 boysMARhode Island: #9 for boys · 265 births · 1 in 32 boysRIOregon: #5 for boys · 687 births · 1 in 25 boysORNevada: #3 for boys · 92 births · 1 in 17 boysNVWyoming: #7 for boys · 84 births · 1 in 34 boysWYSouth Dakota: #9 for boys · 215 births · 1 in 33 boysSDIowa: #7 for boys · 1,024 births · 1 in 30 boysIAIndiana: #5 for boys · 1,860 births · 1 in 24 boysINOhio: #7 for boys · 3,230 births · 1 in 29 boysOHPennsylvania: #10 for boys · 3,101 births · 1 in 38 boysPANew Jersey: #8 for boys · 1,494 births · 1 in 33 boysNJConnecticut: #9 for boys · 619 births · 1 in 34 boysCTCalifornia: #3 for boys · 4,782 births · 1 in 25 boysCAUtah: #5 for boys · 314 births · 1 in 31 boysUTColorado: #6 for boys · 511 births · 1 in 30 boysCONebraska: #6 for boys · 477 births · 1 in 31 boysNEMissouri: #6 for boys · 1,454 births · 1 in 30 boysMOKentucky: #8 for boys · 847 births · 1 in 44 boysKYWest Virginia: #11 for boys · 558 births · 1 in 47 boysWVVirginia: #13 for boys · 630 births · 1 in 61 boysVAMaryland: #9 for boys · 684 births · 1 in 37 boysMDDelaware: #12 for boys · 65 births · 1 in 51 boysDEArizona: #7 for boys · 243 births · 1 in 38 boysAZNew Mexico: #7 for boys · 184 births · 1 in 49 boysNMKansas: #6 for boys · 629 births · 1 in 32 boysKSArkansas: #15 for boys · 340 births · 1 in 71 boysARTennessee: #14 for boys · 607 births · 1 in 69 boysTNNorth Carolina: #14 for boys · 744 births · 1 in 72 boysNCSouth Carolina: #19 for boys · 296 births · 1 in 97 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #5 for boys · 526 births · 1 in 24 boysDCOklahoma: #11 for boys · 573 births · 1 in 43 boysOKLouisiana: #7 for boys · 675 births · 1 in 50 boysLAMississippi: #24 for boys · 242 births · 1 in 120 boysMSAlabama: #19 for boys · 510 births · 1 in 78 boysALGeorgia: #16 for boys · 579 births · 1 in 78 boysGAHawaii: #2 for boys · 197 births · 1 in 31 boysHITexas: #9 for boys · 1,789 births · 1 in 55 boysTXFlorida: #8 for boys · 649 births · 1 in 44 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Hawaii#2 · 1 in 31
  2. Nevada#3 · 1 in 17
  3. California#3 · 1 in 25
  4. Washington#4 · 1 in 25
  5. District of Columbia#5 · 1 in 24

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#21971 in 31
California#34,7821 in 25
Nevada#3921 in 17
Washington#41,0801 in 25
District of Columbia#55261 in 24
Indiana#51,8601 in 24
Michigan#52,9691 in 26
Oregon#56871 in 25
Utah#53141 in 31
Alaska#6371 in 25
Colorado#65111 in 30
Illinois#63,4311 in 27
Kansas#66291 in 32
Maine#63041 in 35
Minnesota#61,2951 in 27
Missouri#61,4541 in 30
Nebraska#64771 in 31
New York#65,5981 in 28
Arizona#72431 in 38
Idaho#72021 in 34
Iowa#71,0241 in 30
Louisiana#76751 in 50
New Mexico#71841 in 49
Ohio#73,2301 in 29
Vermont#71311 in 30
Wisconsin#71,5991 in 24
Wyoming#7841 in 34
Florida#86491 in 44
Kentucky#88471 in 44
Montana#81881 in 34
New Hampshire#81831 in 33
New Jersey#81,4941 in 33
Connecticut#96191 in 34
Maryland#96841 in 37
Massachusetts#91,5501 in 34
Rhode Island#92651 in 32
South Dakota#92151 in 33
Texas#91,7891 in 55
Pennsylvania#103,1011 in 38
North Dakota#111631 in 46
Oklahoma#115731 in 43
West Virginia#115581 in 47
Delaware#12651 in 51
Virginia#136301 in 61
North Carolina#147441 in 72
Tennessee#146071 in 69
Arkansas#153401 in 71
Georgia#165791 in 78
Alabama#195101 in 78
South Carolina#192961 in 97
Mississippi#242421 in 120

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 1947

girls
#635
173 births · 1 in 10,247 girls
boys
#7
50,506 births · 1 in 36 boys

Top girls' names in 1947

  1. #1Linda99,692
  2. #2Mary71,690
  3. #3Patricia51,278
  4. #4Barbara48,800
  5. #5Sandra34,779
  6. #6Carol33,543
  7. #7Nancy32,445
  8. #8Susan31,952
  9. #9Sharon28,533
  10. #10Donna23,517
  11. #635Michael173

Top boys' names in 1947

  1. #1James94,767
  2. #2Robert91,655
  3. #3John88,324
  4. #4William67,002
  5. #5Richard58,532
  6. #6David57,810
  7. #7Michael50,506
  8. #8Thomas44,842
  9. #9Charles40,781
  10. #10Larry34,946
More about 1947

girls

1,772,766 girls got a published name in 1947; 1 in 10,247 of them was named Michael, which outranked 89.6% of the 6,104 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 25.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Michael
  1. #632Caren175
  2. #633Angeline174
  3. #633Reta174
  4. #635Michael173
  5. #635Reva173
  6. #637Ester171
  7. #638Carolynn168
  8. #638Carrol168

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1946
Risers
  1. ↑ 417Michaele#1,276 → #859
  2. ↑ 385Carlotta#997 → #612
  3. ↑ 332Ricki#1,290 → #958
  4. ↑ 300Daria#1,220 → #920
  5. ↑ 290Ivy#1,087 → #797
Fallers
  1. ↓ 341Merlene#961 → #1,302
  2. ↓ 285Beatriz#985 → #1,270
  3. ↓ 276Ruthanne#874 → #1,150
  4. ↓ 253Estela#897 → #1,150
  5. ↓ 242Verla#885 → #1,127

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

boys

1,829,599 boys got a published name in 1947; 1 in 36 of them was named Michael, which outranked 99.8% of the 4,266 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Michael
  1. #4William67,002
  2. #5Richard58,532
  3. #6David57,810
  4. #7Michael50,506
  5. #8Thomas44,842
  6. #9Charles40,781
  7. #10Larry34,946
Biggest movers since 1946
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,271Brock#2,271 → #1,000
  2. ↑ 586Shawn#1,509 → #923
  3. ↑ 500Jed#1,475 → #975
  4. ↑ 358Jody#935 → #577
  5. ↑ 355Deryl#1,355 → #1,000
Fallers
  1. ↓ 497Hurley#952 → #1,449
  2. ↓ 393Prentice#878 → #1,271
  3. ↓ 362Darvin#935 → #1,297
  4. ↓ 310Lary#826 → #1,136
  5. ↓ 303Judith#856 → #1,159

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

See the top 100 for 1947 →