Micheál
Say it: MEE-hawl
BoyIrishMeans who is like God?7 letters2 syllables
#232
in Ireland (2025)
#184 with spellings combined
26
babies in 2025
#91
best rank (1989)
2,359
babies since 1965
Down 35
10-year rank change
Micheál through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #184 |
| 2024 | 26 | #185 |
| 2023 | 32 | #158 |
| 2022 | 34 | #164 |
| 2021 | 28 | #186 |
| 2020 | 34 | #163 |
| 2019 | 41 | #146 |
| 2018 | 55 | #120 |
| 2017 | 53 | #120 |
| 2016 | 48 | #136 |
| 2015 | 42 | #149 |
| 2014 | 43 | #151 |
| 2013 | 48 | #131 |
| 2012 | 60 | #121 |
| 2011 | 62 | #120 |
| 2010 | 45 | #156 |
| 2009 | 59 | #126 |
| 2008 | 71 | #110 |
| 2007 | 55 | #119 |
| 2006 | 50 | #119 |
| 2005 | 46 | #119 |
| 2004 | 37 | #131 |
| 2003 | 41 | #117 |
| 2002 | 25 | #152 |
| 2001 | 16 | #183 |
| 2000 | 31 | #132 |
| 1999 | 28 | #130 |
| 1998 | 23 | #139 |
| 1997 | 64 | #91 |
| 1996 | 53 | #106 |
| 1995 | 45 | #109 |
| 1994 | 44 | #110 |
| 1993 | 50 | #110 |
| 1992 | 52 | #104 |
| 1991 | 52 | #101 |
| 1990 | 51 | #102 |
| 1989 | 58 | #91 |
| 1988 | 42 | #111 |
| 1987 | 49 | #100 |
| 1986 | 61 | #95 |
| 1985 | 58 | #97 |
| 1984 | 59 | #94 |
| 1983 | 59 | #96 |
| 1982 | 68 | #92 |
| 1981 | 63 | #95 |
| 1980 | 25 | #141 |
| 1979 | 31 | #131 |
| 1978 | 45 | #114 |
| 1977 | 32 | #124 |
| 1976 | 28 | #133 |
| 1975 | 21 | #150 |
| 1974 | 19 | #159 |
| 1973 | 22 | #145 |
| 1972 | 16 | #168 |
| 1971 | 7 | #233 |
| 1970 | 6 | #235 |
| 1967 | 9 | #176 |
| 1966 | 7 | #185 |
| 1965 | 4 | #222 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Micheál mean?
Who is like God?
Irish form of Michael, from the Hebrew Mîḵāʾēl (who is like God?).
Say it right
MEEhawl
The "ch" is a soft, breathy sound. In Ulster it is closer to MEE-hal. It is also spelt Mícheál.
Not:MY-kul
The story of Micheál
Micheál is the Irish form of Michael, which came through Latin from the Hebrew Mîḵāʾēl, “who is like God?”. It is also the Irish name of the archangel Michael. Mícheál, with a second fada, is another accepted spelling, and Maidhc is the Irish for Mike.
Two well-known bearers are the Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Kerry-born GAA commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, whose radio voice was known all over the country.
The CSO printed no fadas before 2018, so its older figures are for Micheal. The name’s best rank in Ireland was number 91 in 1989, and it had the most babies in 2008, with 71 boys. Since 2018 the CSO has counted Micheál, Mícheál and other spellings separately. Together they were number 184 in 2025, while Micheál alone was number 232. It is doing better in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 86 in 2025, its highest place there.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Micheál (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Micheal
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Micheál | 20 | 132 |
| Mícheál | 6 | 100 |
| Micheal | under 3 | 2,114 |
| Michéal | under 3 | 13 |
In Northern Ireland
#86 in 2025 with 27 babies. Best rank #86 (2025); 484 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.