Michael

Michael is a traditionally masculine name with Hebrew roots. It means "who is like God" or "gift from God." In the Bible, Saint Michael conquered Satan; he is also the patron saint of soldiers.

Michael appears in Shakespeare's plays as well: In 'King Henry IV, Part 1' Sir Michael is friends with the Archbishop of York; in 'Henry VI, Part 2' Michael is a follower of rebel Jack Cade.

Perhaps the most famous Michaels are pop star Michael Jackson and athlete Michael Jordan. Other notable Michaels in pop culture include Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, author Michael Ondaatje, singer Michael Buble, and actors Michael Caine (whose real name, however, is Maurice), Michael B. Jordan, Michael J. Fox, and Michael Gambon.

According to the Social Security Administration, the name Michael has held the #1 spot in the U.S. more times than any other name during the past 100 years; it's been #1 44 times. It began becoming more common than ever in the 1940s and peaked in usage in 1967-1969. It's been declining since, but even as late as 2018 nearly 6,500 U.S. babies per million were named Michael.

Michael in quotes:

“We die containing a richness of lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have plunged into and swum up as if rivers of wisdom, characters we have climbed into as if trees, fears we have hidden in as if caves.”
― Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient

"If you look up the definition of greatness in the dictionary, it will say Michael Jordan."
— Elgin Baylor