Mikel
A male given name from Basque, equivalent to English Michael.
Every Mikel since 1882 — 12,554 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Mikel
Mikel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,930 in 2025 with 81 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1882, 12,554 American babies have been named Mikel — about 92% boys and 8% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1989, when 224 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.
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 Mikel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Mikel 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 | — | — | 81 | #1,930 |
| 2024 | — | — | 92 | #1,789 |
| 2023 | — | — | 107 | #1,629 |
| 2022 | — | — | 116 | #1,547 |
| 2021 | — | — | 111 | #1,571 |
| 2020 | — | — | 120 | #1,447 |
| 2019 | — | — | 121 | #1,447 |
| 2018 | 8 | #12,131 | 154 | #1,217 |
| 2017 | — | — | 138 | #1,311 |
| 2016 | — | — | 146 | #1,259 |
| 2015 | 5 | #18,269 | 149 | #1,229 |
| 2014 | — | — | 165 | #1,149 |
| 2013 | 6 | #15,919 | 155 | #1,165 |
| 2012 | — | — | 157 | #1,165 |
| 2011 | 7 | #14,337 | 159 | #1,139 |
| 2010 | 7 | #14,481 | 172 | #1,112 |
| 2009 | 9 | #12,134 | 166 | #1,116 |
| 2008 | 16 | #7,993 | 182 | #1,045 |
| 2007 | 9 | #12,338 | 184 | #1,025 |
| 2006 | 9 | #12,093 | 188 | #992 |
| 2005 | 12 | #9,264 | 181 | #966 |
| 2004 | 17 | #6,995 | 201 | #872 |
| 2003 | 15 | #7,466 | 166 | #971 |
| 2002 | 12 | #8,652 | 169 | #951 |
| 2001 | 21 | #5,499 | 180 | #879 |
| 2000 | 23 | #5,096 | 188 | #852 |
| 1995 | 19 | #5,159 | 149 | #902 |
| 1990 | 22 | #4,470 | 182 | #756 |
| 1985 | 14 | #5,248 | 157 | #703 |
| 1980 | 16 | #4,665 | 126 | #781 |
| 1975 | 24 | #3,020 | 132 | #721 |
| 1970 | 9 | #5,672 | 126 | #733 |
| 1965 | — | — | 103 | #733 |
| 1960 | 6 | #6,167 | 126 | #700 |
| 1955 | — | — | 153 | #597 |
| 1950 | 8 | #4,210 | 94 | #710 |
| 1945 | — | — | 39 | #1,026 |
| 1940 | 7 | #3,745 | 17 | #1,726 |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | 6 | #3,872 |
| 1925 | — | — | 5 | #4,674 |
| 1920 | — | — | 8 | #3,396 |
| 1915 | — | — | 7 | #3,279 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Mikel
- Mikel Laboa Singer · 1934–2008
- Mikel Arteta Soccer player · b. 1982
- Mikel Koliqi Religious figure · 1900–1997
- Mikel Landa Cyclist · b. 1989
- Mikel Alonso Soccer player · b. 1980
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mikel mean?
A male given name from Basque, equivalent to English Michael.
How popular is the name Mikel in 2025?
Mikel ranked #1,930 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 81 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Mikel?
12,554 babies have been named Mikel in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Mikel most popular?
Mikel peaked in 1989, when 224 newborns received the name.
Is Mikel a boy or girl name?
Mikel is used for both: about 8% of babies named Mikel have been girls and 92% boys.
Is the name Mikel rising or falling?
Mikel is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Mikel?
Well-known people named Mikel include Mikel Laboa (singer), Mikel Arteta (soccer player), Mikel Koliqi (religious figure).