The boy's name Michael \m(i)-chael\, also used as girl's name Michael, is pronounced MYE-kal. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "who resembles God?". Biblical: Michael is the archangel (chief or principal angel) who defeats the dragon. He and Gabriel are angels given personal names in the canonical Bible. Many saints, emperors, and kings have borne the name, and there are many variants, male and female. Micheal, the Gaelic spelling, is frequently used. This may be intentional, or it may be an accidental transposition of the "ae" vowels. Michael and Angelo are frequently blended in Latin-based language-speaking countries, as in Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Italian artist. Miguel (mee-GEL) is a Spanish and Portuguese form; Michel is French and popular in the Netherlands; Michiel (mee-KHEEL) is Dutch; Mikael, Mikell, Mikkel are Scandinavian; Michail, Mikhail are Russian; Michal is Polish; Miko is Slavic; Mikel, Miquel are Basque, French. Baseball celebrity Mickey Mantle; actors Mickey Rooney, Michael Caine, Michael J. Fox, Michel Chiklis, Michael Gambon, Michael Imperioli, Mike Myers; singers Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger; cartoon celebrity Mickey Mouse; Soviet statesman Mikhail Gorbachev; hockey player Mike Modano; fashion designer Michael Kors.

ORIGIN
Hebrew

MEANING
Who resembles God

Has flirted among the 50 most popular names for well over 100 years. Climbed to No. 1 for the first time in 1954 and spent 38 years in the top spot. Michael was one of the seven archangels and the leader of heaven's armies in the New Testament. Kings, saints, and emperors have been given this name. Today most people think of musician Michael Jackson or basketball star Michael Jordan.

VARIATIONS
Michelle Michaela

ALTERNATIVES
Micael Mychael Mychal Michal Michel Mical Micel Michail Mikel Micheal

NICKNAMES
Mick Mikey Mike Mickey

FAMOUS Michaels
Michael Phelps (Olympic medalist) Michael Schumacher (German Formula One driver) Michael Douglas (actor) Michael Bolton (musician) Michael Johnson (Olympic medalist) Michael J. Fox (actor)

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