מיכאל
Michael means “who is like God”
Michael is a boy's name of Biblical origin.
In the Book of Daniel, Michael is the angel who guards the people of Israel.
52,996 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Michael.
- 161 of them are women and girls, and 52,835 are men and boys.
- 1,035 of them were born in 1953, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 4,077, against 2,780 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is growing.
- The total includes the other Hebrew spellings the register counts separately: מכאל. The chart shows the spelling מיכאל alone.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Michael is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling מיכאל today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish girls | 161 | fewer than 5 | – |
| Jewish boys | 52,531 | 892 | 15 of 541 |
| Muslim girls | 7 | fewer than 5 | – |
| Muslim boys | 40 | fewer than 5 | – |
| Christian Arab boys | 155 | 0 | – |
In 2024, Michael ranked 15 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Michael in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Michael.
What does the name Michael mean?
Michael means “who is like God”. Michael is a boy's name of Biblical origin. In the Book of Daniel, Michael is the angel who guards the people of Israel.
Is Michael a boy's name or a girl's name?
Michael is mainly a boy's name. Of the 52,996 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 161 are women and girls and 52,835 are men and boys.
How do you write Michael in Hebrew?
Michael is written מיכאל in Hebrew. The register also counts these other Hebrew spellings: מכאל.
How many people in Israel are named Michael?
52,996 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Michael today. The most were born in 1953. In 2024, Michael ranked 15 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.