Michelle is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the French word 'michel', which means "who is like God?" The name has been popular in various forms throughout history, with variations such as Michelina, Michaela, and Michelle gaining widespread usage.
The name Michelle first appeared in France during the Middle Ages, often used as a diminutive form of longer names like Michel. It was commonly associated with the cult of Saint Michael the Archangel, whose feast day is celebrated on September 29th.
Over time, Michelle became popular beyond France's borders. In English-speaking countries, it emerged in the early 20th century and steadily gained popularity throughout the mid-century period. By the 1950s, Michelle had become one of the most popular girl's names in the United States, reaching its peak popularity during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Notable individuals named Michelle include American actresses Michelle Pfeiffer and Michelle Williams, French film director Michel Gondry, and former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama. Despite its origins as a female name, it is important to note that Michelle can also be used for males, as evidenced by the French football player Michel Platini.
In summary, Michelle is a feminine given name of French origin, meaning "who is like God?" It has evolved over centuries and gained international popularity in various forms. Today, it remains a widely recognized and beloved name around the world.
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Michelle in the United States from 1946 to 2011.
Over this period of nearly seven decades, there is a clear trend of fluctuations in the popularity of the name Michelle. Initially, it started with a steady increase from 5 births per year between 1946 and 1948, then jumped significantly to 10 births in 1951.
The name's popularity peaked in the late 1960s and early 1970s, reaching a high of 150 births in 1971. However, after this peak, the number of Michelle births began to decline steadily over the next decade, dropping from 138 births in 1969 to 109 births in 1974.
From the mid-1970s onwards, the popularity of the name Michelle remained relatively stable but at a lower level compared to its peak years. There were some fluctuations with peaks in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but overall, the number of births continued to decrease.
By the year 2000, the popularity of the name Michelle had significantly declined, with only 24 births recorded that year. This downward trend continued until it reached its lowest point in recent years, with only 6 births recorded in 2009 and 10 births in 2011.
In total, over this period, there were 3,250 babies named Michelle born in the United States. These statistics provide insight into the changing trends of baby naming habits over time, with Michelle's popularity rising and falling over several decades.