Given name & surname
Michal
“brook”
Michal is used as a given name and a surname. One Hebrew interpretation is “brook.”
Original Hebrewמיכל
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hebrew interpretation is “brook.”
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Hebrew, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
In Czech usage, Michal developed from the Latin form Michael.
The story
In biblical tradition, Michal is the name of a daughter of Saul.
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Michal appears in 1 Samuel 14:49, 2 Samuel 3:13-16, 1 Samuel 18:20 and 2 other passages.
- 1 Samuel 14:49
- 2 Samuel 3:13-16
- 1 Samuel 18:20
- 2 Samuel 6:14-23
- 2 Samuel 21:8
From biblical name research
Michal through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,813
- 3,782 boys · 4,031 girls
- Most popular year
- 1985
- 158 babies
- 2025
- 48
- #4,320 for girls · #6,049 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −10%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 27% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 33 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,320 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 90 in 1985. It also appeared in 15 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, New Jersey had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (17). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,276 as a first name in 2020; 769 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Michal’s family of names
In Old Czech usage, Michal has a diminutive in MICHALEC. In Czech usage, Michal developed from the Latin form Michael. In Slovak usage, Michal has a conventional equivalent in the Italian form Michele.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Michal has relatives in 15 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
22 related names in 15 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 27
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- MiguelSpanish
- Mikaelequivalent
- MikaFinnish
- Mikhailequivalent
- Mikkoequivalent
- Mikailequivalent
- MichelFrench
- MicheleItalian
Show 19 moreShow fewer
- Mykhailoequivalent
- Mihaiequivalent
- Mychalequivalent
- Mykolasequivalent
- Michalafeminine form · Czech
- Miquelequivalent
- Michielequivalent
- Mihaelequivalent
- Michailequivalent
- MikalaHawaiian
- Mihkelequivalent
- Міхаілequivalent
- Михайлоcognate · Ukrainian
- ΜιχαήλGreek
- MichałPolish
- MichaëlFrench, Luxembourgish
- Mihályequivalent
- Михаилequivalent
- מיכלequivalent
See also 6
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Michal
- Michal KadlecCzech association football player (1984-)
- Michal KováčSlovak economist, politician, president of the Slovakia (1993–1998)1930–2016
- Michal SadílekCzech association football playerborn 1999
- Michal ĎurišSlovak soccer player and Czech Supercup winnerborn 1988
- Michal BílekCzech footballerborn 1965
- Michal MartikánSlovak slalom canoeistborn 1979
- Michal KrčmářCzech biathleteborn 1991
- Michal ŠandaCzech poet, writerborn 1965
- Michal BřezinaCzech figure skaterborn 1990
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Michal, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jayme
“he who supplants” · “she who supplants”
36% boys · 64% girls
Ariel
“a lioness of God” · “a lion of God”
27% boys · 73% girls
Jael
“resembling a mountain goat”
49% boys · 51% girls
Jamie
“she who supplants” · “he who supplants”
47% boys · 53% girls
Tommi
Tommi is a masculine given name from Biblical Hebrew. It is used in Finnish.
2% boys · 98% girls
Kish
“snaring”
25% boys · 75% girls
Mishma
“rumor” · “a thing heard”
30% boys · 70% girls
Rahil
“the innocent lamb” · “ewe”
41% boys · 59% girls