Where does the name Mike come from?

Mike is a boy name of Hebrew origin.

Is Mike a boy or a girl name?

Mike is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 205,476 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Mike in 2023?

Mike ranks #1059 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1960 with 12,045 babies.

How do you pronounce Mike?

Mike is pronounced MYKE (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Mike?

Mike is also written as Mick, Mikey, Michael.

A name from Hebrew · Boy

Mike

A short form of Michael, from Hebrew Mikhael meaning 'who is like God?' — a rhetorical name honoring the archangel. So ubiquitous in American English that it functions as a generic male name.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

205,476 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

206 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

MA short form of Michael, from Hebrew Mikhael meaning 'who is like God?' — a rhetorical name honoring the archangel. So ubiquitous in American English that it functions as a generic male name.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Mike".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Mick Most common Mikey Michael

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Mike.

M
Mike Tyson (heavyweight champion)
M
Mike Pence (U.S. vice president)
M
Mike Trout (MLB outfielder)

Quick answers

People often ask about Mike.

What does the name Mike mean?: Mike means a short form of Michael, from Hebrew Mikhael meaning 'who is like God?' — a rhetorical name honoring the archangel. So ubiquitous in American English that it functions as a generic male name.
Where does the name Mike come from?: Mike is a boy name of Hebrew origin.
Is Mike a boy or a girl name?: Mike is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 205,476 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Mike in 2023?: Mike ranks #1059 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1960 with 12,045 babies.
How do you pronounce Mike?: Mike is pronounced MYKE (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Mike?: Mike is also written as Mick, Mikey, Michael.

Similar names

If you love Mike, also consider…

James

Boy ·Hebrew

Supplanter; one who follows

Michael

#16

Boy ·Hebrew

Who is like God? A rhetorical name honoring the archangel

Mary

#133

Girl ·Hebrew

Bitter; beloved; wished-for child

God is my oath; consecrated to God

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.