Michael
Boy name · #21 in 2025 · Uniqueness 41/100
Michael ranks #21 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 8,094 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #9, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 222 boys born in 2025 was named Michael.
The 145-year story
Michael first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 354 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 92,781 boys were named Michael — good for #1 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Michael per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Michael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Michael in class?
Michael scores 41 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Michael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Michael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Michaels were CA (875), TX (782), NY (604), FL (529), PA (385). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Michael
Statistically, parents drawn to Michael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Joseph, Daniel, Thomas, David, and John.
JosephDanielThomasDavidJohnCharlesWilliamMatthew
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Michael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8,094 | #21 |
| 2024 | 8,229 | #18 |
| 2023 | 8,430 | #16 |
| 2022 | 8,895 | #16 |
| 2021 | 9,150 | #17 |
| 2020 | 9,833 | #12 |
| 2019 | 10,619 | #14 |
| 2018 | 11,756 | #14 |
| 2017 | 12,726 | #12 |
| 2016 | 14,145 | #8 |
| 2015 | 14,504 | #9 |
| 2014 | 15,505 | #7 |
| 2013 | 15,544 | #7 |
| 2012 | 16,211 | #7 |
| 2011 | 16,823 | #6 |
| 2010 | 17,387 | #3 |
| 2009 | 18,964 | #3 |
| 2008 | 20,652 | #2 |
| 2007 | 22,027 | #2 |
| 2006 | 22,653 | #2 |
| 2005 | 23,828 | #2 |
| 2004 | 25,470 | #2 |
| 2003 | 27,129 | #2 |
| 2002 | 28,258 | #2 |
| 2001 | 29,689 | #2 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Michael a popular boy name?
Michael ranked #21 among boys in 2025 with 8,094 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #9.
When was the name Michael most popular?
Michael peaked in 1957, when 92,781 American boys received the name (ranked #1 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Michael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 222 newborn American boys was named Michael. It scores 41/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.