Michelle

"Michelle, ma belle — sont les mots qui vont très bien ensemble," sang the Beatles: "Michelle" and "my beauty" are words that go very well together. And while the name Michelle doesn't technically mean "beauty" it's certainly a beautiful classic. The name has both French and Hebrew roots and is the feminine version of Michael, meaning "gift from God" or "who is like God."

If you like the French-sounding -elle ending but want to branch out from Michelle, you can always try Chantelle, Garcelle, Rosabelle, or even one-syllable names like Elle and Stelle. Other lovely feminized versions of traditionally masculine names include Charlotte, Roberta, Johanna, Jackie/Jacqueline, Francine, and Paula. Or go for a super-French 'M' name like Manon, Margaux, Marion, Mathilde, Méline or Morgane.

Popularity-wise, Michelle was a real '60s/'70s crossover name, peaking in popularity in 1969, thanks in no small part to the aforementioned Beatles song of the same name, which came out in 1969. It hit the U.S. top 10 names list for seven years. Famous Michelles include Michelle Phan, Michelle Wozniak, Michelle Cliff, Michelle Foley, Michelle Rodriguez, Michelle Keegan, Michelle Khare, both Michelle Williamses ('Dawson's Creek' plus Destiny's Child, duh) and of course our once and forever queen, First Lady Michelle Obama.

Michelle in quotes:

"Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own." — Michelle Obama

“Freedom without the means to be self-supporting is a one-armed triumph.”
― Michelle Cliff