Michel
A male given name from French, equivalent to English Michael.
Every Michel since 1880 — 14,094 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Michel
Michel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,642 in 2025 with 22 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 14,094 American babies have been named Michel — about 75% boys and 25% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1957, when 325 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Michel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Michel year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | #10,637 | 22 | #4,642 |
| 2024 | 15 | #7,479 | 31 | #3,662 |
| 2023 | 11 | #9,409 | 27 | #4,082 |
| 2022 | 7 | #13,136 | 23 | #4,532 |
| 2021 | 7 | #13,061 | 25 | #4,190 |
| 2020 | 7 | #13,038 | 26 | #3,991 |
| 2019 | 5 | #17,215 | 26 | #4,071 |
| 2018 | 6 | #15,048 | 27 | #3,956 |
| 2017 | 9 | #11,319 | 30 | #3,641 |
| 2016 | 6 | #15,602 | 20 | #4,884 |
| 2015 | 13 | #8,781 | 41 | #2,897 |
| 2014 | 11 | #9,952 | 26 | #3,979 |
| 2013 | — | — | 36 | #3,103 |
| 2012 | 18 | #7,066 | 34 | #3,282 |
| 2011 | 19 | #6,770 | 48 | #2,576 |
| 2010 | 29 | #4,930 | 42 | #2,856 |
| 2009 | 55 | #3,116 | 55 | #2,373 |
| 2008 | 44 | #3,688 | 52 | #2,453 |
| 2007 | 56 | #3,115 | 55 | #2,359 |
| 2006 | 75 | #2,477 | 63 | #2,093 |
| 2005 | 64 | #2,662 | 57 | #2,157 |
| 2004 | 62 | #2,668 | 68 | #1,824 |
| 2003 | 66 | #2,482 | 63 | #1,881 |
| 2002 | 59 | #2,628 | 49 | #2,184 |
| 2001 | 52 | #2,836 | 60 | #1,859 |
| 2000 | 53 | #2,767 | 62 | #1,776 |
| 1995 | 53 | #2,445 | 65 | #1,486 |
| 1990 | 39 | #2,935 | 132 | #894 |
| 1985 | 38 | #2,577 | 103 | #896 |
| 1980 | 56 | #1,926 | 95 | #917 |
| 1975 | 61 | #1,616 | 142 | #698 |
| 1970 | 89 | #1,254 | 167 | #628 |
| 1965 | 62 | #1,402 | 200 | #541 |
| 1960 | 56 | #1,477 | 267 | #487 |
| 1955 | 36 | #1,764 | 239 | #475 |
| 1950 | 26 | #1,896 | 193 | #484 |
| 1945 | 22 | #1,816 | 76 | #702 |
| 1940 | — | — | 37 | #1,088 |
| 1935 | — | — | 25 | #1,386 |
| 1930 | — | — | 27 | #1,414 |
| 1925 | — | — | 31 | #1,322 |
| 1920 | — | — | 28 | #1,410 |
| 1915 | — | — | 24 | #1,397 |
| 1910 | — | — | 6 | #1,529 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | 6 | #878 |
Famous people named Michel
- Michel de Montaigne Philosopher · 1533–1592
- Michel Foucault Philosopher · 1926–1984
- Michel Aoun Politician · b. 1935
- Michel Ney Military personnel · 1769–1815
- Michel Platini Soccer player · b. 1955
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Michel mean?
A male given name from French, equivalent to English Michael.
How popular is the name Michel in 2025?
Michel ranked #4,642 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 22 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Michel?
14,094 babies have been named Michel in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Michel most popular?
Michel peaked in 1957, when 325 newborns received the name.
Is Michel a boy or girl name?
Michel is used for both: about 25% of babies named Michel have been girls and 75% boys.
Is the name Michel rising or falling?
Michel is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Michel?
Well-known people named Michel include Michel de Montaigne (philosopher), Michel Foucault (philosopher), Michel Aoun (politician).