Given name & surname
Misha
“who is like God?”
Misha is a variant of Michelle. In French use, Michelle carries the interpretation “who is like God?.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Misha is a variant of Michelle. In French use, Michelle carries the interpretation “who is like God?.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In Russian use, Misha is an affectionate form of Michael. An origin associated with Michael is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Russian use, Misha is used as an affectionate form of Mikhail.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1954. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Misha through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,858
- 603 boys · 4,255 girls
- Most popular year
- 1991
- 142 babies
- 2025
- 60
- #3,236 for girls · #7,516 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −11%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 20% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 49 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,236 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 15.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 135 in 1991. It also appeared in 11 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,924 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Misha’s family of names
Misha is an affectionate form of Michael. In English usage, Misha developed from the Hebrew form מיכאל. Misha has a related form in Michelle.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Misha has relatives in 3 languages.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Misha
- Miesha TateAmerican mixed martial artistborn 1986
- Misha GeUzbekistani figure skaterborn 1991
- Misha ZilbermanIsraeli badminton playerborn 1989
- Misha GlennyBritish journalist specialised in southeastern Europe global organised crime and cyber securityborn 1958
- Misha BBritish singerborn 1992
- Misha GabrielAmerican dancer, choreographer, and actorborn 1987
- Misha CirkunovCanadian Russian judoka and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighterborn 1987
- Misha Latuhihinvolleyball playerborn 1970
- Misha DichterAmerican classical pianistborn 1945
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Misha, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mireya
“one who is worthy of admiration”
>99% girls
Mayra
“star of the sea” · “from the sea of bitterness”
>99% girls
Dasha
“a gift of God”
>99% girls
Micaela
“who is like God?”
>99% girls
Mariela
Mariela is a feminine given name from Spanish. It is used in English and Spanish.
>99% girls
Marissa
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Mercedes
“wages” · “lady of mercies; refers to the Virgin Mary”
>99% girls
Alisha
Alisha is a feminine given name from Germanic.
>99% girls