Michelle
How to say it: muh-SHEL · /mɪˈʃɛl/
French feminine form of Michael, from Hebrew Mikha'el meaning 'Who is like God?'
Michelle was the 459th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 661 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1970s, its births are down about 61% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #631 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #459 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 661 |
| Share of births | 1 in 5,015 |
| Peak decade | 1970s |
| Change over 10 years | −61% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #631 |
| In France, 2025 | #806 among girls’ names, 35 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Once a defining name of the 1970s, Michelle now sits far below that peak. Further slipping is expected ahead.
What goes with it
Breathed muh SHEL, Michelle feels soft and breathy with a smooth close. Nicole and Denise share its style.
Parents who love Michelle also love
Nicknames
- Mich
- Shelly
- Micki
Honouring a Michelle in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Michelle is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish.
In France: #806 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #350. Ireland: #316.
Famous people named Michelle
- Michelle Obama (born 1964)Lawyer and former First Lady of the United States
- Michelle Bachelet (born 1951)President of Chile from (2006–2010; 2014–2018)
- Michelle Pfeiffer (born 1958)American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Hurricane Michelle (2001, Cat 4) retired by WMO in spring 2002 after major damage in Cuba and Central America
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