Gender:

Male

Meaning:

‘Who is like God?’ (from Hebrew: Mikha’el)

History & etymology:

The first written record of the name Michael can be found in the Bible. In the New Testament, Michael is the name of an archangel, the leader in the war against Satan and the dragon (Book of Revelation). He is believed to guard the gate to the Paradise. Archangel Michael is the patron saint of soldiers, marines and police.

Because of the Biblical character’s popularity in art and culture, the name Michael was given to nine Byzantine emperors. The name came to Europe in the Middle Ages via Greek (Mikhael) and Late Latin (Michael). It was adopted into English language in the 12th century.

Alternative spellings & nicknames:

Micheal

Related name: Micah
Diminutives: Mick, Mickey, Micky, Mike, Mikey

Similar names in other languages & name days:

Austria
29th September: Michael

Czech Republic
29th September: Michal

Finland
29th September: Mikael

France
29th September: Michel

Germany
3rd February, 29th September: Michael

Hungary
6th December: Miklós

Lithuania
11th May: Migle
8th May: Mykolas

Poland
2nd March, 14th March, 10th April, 4th May, 8th May, 23rd May, 20th June, 5th July, 25th August, 6th September: Michał

Spain
23rd May, 29th September: Miguel

Sweden
29th September: Mikael

Ukraine
8th November: Michael

USA
29th September: Michael, Micheal, Micah, Mickey

Famous people named Michael:

Michelangelo (1475 – 1564) - Italian painter
Michael I of Russia (1596 – 1645) - Russian tzar
Michael of Romania (1921-) - king of Romania
Michał Korybut- Wiśniowiecki (1640 – 1673) - king of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Michael Buble (1975) - Canadian jazz singer
Michael Dell (1965-) - American entrepreneur, founder of Dell Inc.
Michael Douglas (1944-) - American actor
Michael J. Fox (1961-) - Canadian actor
Michael Gambon (1940-) - Irish actor
Michael Jackson (1958-2009) - American pop singer
Michael ‘Mick’ Jagger (1943-) - British singer
Michael Jordan (1963-) - American basketball player
Michael Keaton (1951-) - American actor
Michael Phelps (1985-) - American swimmer
Michael Schumacher (1969-) - German race car driver
Michael ‘Mike’ Tyson (1966-) - American boxer

Fun facts:

Popularity (2015)

USA: 9th     
England and Wales: 54th
Canada: 46th
Australia: 44th
New Zealand: 58th
Ireland: 8th
Northern Ireland: 16th          
Scotland: 50th

Austria: 26th
Czech Republic: 38th
France: 431st

Lucky colors: white, ivory
Lucky stone: Diamond
Ruling planet: Venus
Characteristics: artistic, caring, creative, introverted, melancholic

Michael was the name of the first gorilla to use American sign language.