Fun Facts About the Name Mikhal
- 42 babies named Mikhal: U.S. records list 42 babies given the name Mikhal from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 girls received the name Mikhal - about 1 girl for every 7 boys.
What Does the Name Mikhal Mean?
Mikhal is a transliteration of the Hebrew feminine name מִיכַל, usually spelled Michal in English Bibles. Its customary meaning is 'Who is like God?' - a rhetorical phrase from the Hebrew interrogative mi ('who?') and El ('God'), with the preposition 'like' between them. The same phrase is associated with the name Michael (מִיכָאֵל). The derivation is not certain, however: the spelling of מִיכַל lacks the full El element found in Michael, and some reference works treat the name as a shortened form whose precise sense is uncertain. 'Who is like God?' is therefore best described as a traditional interpretation rather than a definitively established literal translation.
Mikhal Name History & Origins
The name is best known from the Hebrew Bible, where Michal (מִיכַל) is a daughter of King Saul and a wife of David. The narratives in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel present her as helping David escape Saul and later as criticizing his dancing before the Ark. These are literary portrayals rather than evidence of the name's earliest everyday use. English Bibles usually render the name Michal; Mikhal is a transliteration that reflects the Hebrew pronunciation of the letter kaf as kh.
As a modern given name, Mikhal appears in Hebrew-speaking and Jewish contexts, often alongside the spelling Michal. It is distinct from Michael (מִיכָאֵל) and from Mikhail, the Slavic form of Michael, although the spellings are similar. In English-language use, Mikhal generally functions as a variant transliteration of Michal rather than as a name with a separate origin.
How Popular is the Name Mikhal?
Mikhal has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2005. Its best rank was #8,427 in 1999.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | #17,079 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #13,922 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2006 | #11,579 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #8,831 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #10,236 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #8,427 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #9,680 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with M
How the Name Mikhal Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Mikhal's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Mikhal's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.