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The short answer
Michelle is a feminine name used in French and English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "French feminine form of Michel. It has been common in the English-speaking world since the middle of the 20th century." It ranked #465 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, french feminine form of Michel. It has been common in the English-speaking world since the middle of the 20th century. The entry lists its usage as French, English, Dutch.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Michelle ranked #465 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #465 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (French) and that sit near Michelle in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Michelle mean?
Behind the Name does not give Michelle a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: french feminine form of Michel.
Is Michelle a popular name?
Michelle ranked #465 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Michelle a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Michelle appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Michelle — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
