Behind the name: Michael

Michael is a name that has been popular in the United States since 1880 but it really started to gain popularity in the 1940’s. Michael can be used for a boy or girl name but it is most commonly used as a boy’s name. It is also used as a surname.

Michael is a name that has Hebrew origins and means who resembles God or who is God like’. In the Christian religion Michael is the name of an archangel who defeated the dragon in a biblical story.

There have been many saints, emperors and kings with the name of Michael through out history. There are several churches all over the world named after Saint Michael like St. Michael’s church in Flushing, New York.

There are many famous people with the name Michael like the actors Michael Caine, Michael J. Fox, Michel Chiklis, Michael Gambon, Michael Imperioli, Mike Myers.

Michael Jackson is a famous American singer who was born August 29, 1958. His full name is Michael Joseph Jackson but he is commonly referred to as MJ or the King of Pop. Michael Jackson began his career at the age of five and has been in the entertainment business for over 40 years.

Mickey Charles Mantle was born October 20, 1931 in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. Mickey Mantle was a famous baseball player who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. Mickey Mantle passed away on August 13, 1995.

There are many different ways people pronounce and spell the name Michael these are just a few examples of them.

Michiel Spanish, Portuguese
Michel French
Michiel Dutch
Mikael, Mikell, Mikkel Scandinavian
Michail, Mikhail Russian
Michal Polish
Miko Slavic
Mikel, Miquel Basque, French

These are just a few forms of the name shortened or nicknames.

Mike
Mikie
Mickey
Mick
Mic

Here is a list of some Kings, Rulers and Emperors with the name of Michael.

Byzantine Emperors

Michael I 811 813
Michael II 820 829
Michael III 842 867
Michael IV the Paphlagonian 1034 1041
Michael V 1041 1042
Michael VI 1056 1057
Michael VII 1067 1078
Michael VIII Palaeologus 1259 1282
Michael IX Palaiologu

Russian Rulers

Mikhail of Vladimir 1174 1176
Mikhail Yaroslavich 1304 1318
Michael I 1613 1645
Michael II 1917

King of Poland

Michal Korybut Wisniowiecki

King of Portugal

Miguel of Portugal

Some forms of the female name Michael are Michelle and Michaela but there are also women who spell their name Michael just like you would for a boy. Michael is a beautiful name and is most commonly spelled Michael whether it is a male name or female name.

For additional information visit:

www.en.wikipedia.org
www.michaeljackson.com
www.imdb.com
www.babynameshold.com