Michael — Boy name popularity
2025 rank #21 · peak #1 (1954) · 4,426,753 babies all-time
Michael is a boys' name that, in 2025, was ranked #21 (8,094 babies) in the United States, according to the Social Security Administration. Its all-time peak was #1 in 1954 (88,568 babies). Across the years tracked here it has been given to about 4,426,753 babies. Michael is far below its peak and has become less common. The table below shows Michael's SSA rank and birth count year by year. (We report only counts SSA publishes; years where the name fell below SSA's 5-baby threshold show no count.)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names. Data as of SSA national data through 2025, state data through 2025, retrieved June 2026.
Michael popularity over time
Rank and number of boys named Michael per year, from SSA national data. Recent years are shown individually; earlier history is shown at decade points back to 1880.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #21 | 8,094 |
| 2024 | #18 | 8,229 |
| 2023 | #16 | 8,430 |
| 2022 | #16 | 8,895 |
| 2021 | #17 | 9,150 |
| 2020 | #12 | 9,833 |
| 2019 | #14 | 10,619 |
| 2018 | #14 | 11,756 |
| 2017 | #12 | 12,726 |
| 2016 | #8 | 14,145 |
| 2015 | #9 | 14,504 |
| 2014 | #7 | 15,505 |
| 2013 | #7 | 15,544 |
| 2012 | #7 | 16,211 |
| 2011 | #6 | 16,823 |
| 2010 | #3 | 17,387 |
| 2009 | #3 | 18,964 |
| 2008 | #2 | 20,652 |
| 2007 | #2 | 22,027 |
| 2006 | #2 | 22,653 |
| 2005 | #2 | 23,828 |
| 2004 | #2 | 25,470 |
| 2003 | #2 | 27,129 |
| 2002 | #2 | 28,258 |
| 2001 | #2 | 29,689 |
| 2000 | #2 | 32,045 |
| 1999 | #2 | 33,915 |
| 1998 | #1 | 36,618 |
| 1997 | #1 | 37,562 |
| 1996 | #1 | 38,373 |
| 1990 | #1 | 65,321 |
| 1980 | #1 | 68,683 |
| 1970 | #1 | 85,266 |
| 1960 | #2 | 84,153 |
| 1950 | #4 | 65,136 |
| 1940 | #18 | 13,228 |
| 1930 | #54 | 3,543 |
| 1920 | #50 | 4,003 |
| 1910 | #45 | 844 |
| 1900 | #51 | 495 |
| 1890 | #48 | 394 |
| 1880 | #46 | 354 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names. Data as of SSA national data through 2025, state data through 2025, retrieved June 2026.
Key facts
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Sex | Boy |
| 2025 rank | #21 |
| 2025 babies | 8,094 |
| Peak rank | #1 (1954) |
| Peak-year babies | 88,568 |
| First tracked year | 1880 |
| All-time babies (tracked years) | 4,426,753 |
Similar in popularity (2025)
| Boy name | 2025 rank | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Samuel | #18 | 8,334 |
| Leo | #19 | 8,173 |
| Ezra | #20 | 8,126 |
| Daniel | #22 | 8,085 |
| John | #23 | 8,027 |
| Ethan | #24 | 7,852 |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Michael for boys?
In 2025, Michael was the 21st most popular boys' name in the US, given to 8,094 babies, per the Social Security Administration. Its all-time peak was #1 in 1954 (88,568 babies).
When was Michael most popular?
For boys, Michael peaked at rank #1 in 1954 (88,568 babies). The first year it appears in SSA data (within our tracked years) is 1880. It has been given to about 4,426,753 babies in total across the years we track.
Is Michael a boy or girl name?
In the SSA data we track, Michael appears predominantly as a boys' name; it does not have a separate ranked entry for girls in our dataset.
Keep exploring
Source
U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names, national data 1880–2025. SSA national data through 2025, state data through 2025, retrieved June 2026. Public domain (U.S. Government). SSA has no name meanings or origins; this page presents only popularity data. See our methodology.
Last updated: 2026-06-22