Holding steady.
Popularity of Machel since 1958
Babies named Machel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11 | 0 |
| 1960s | 84 | 0 |
| 1970s | 18 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Machel is a rare modern name first recorded in 1958, with a peak in 1962. It likely originated as a creative spelling of Michelle, a name derived from the Hebrew Michael meaning 'who is like God?'. The name has maintained a consistently low usage trajectory, never ranking in the top 1000. Its prevalence is so low that no top states can be identified. As a largely idiosyncratic formation, Machel represents a brief, localized naming choice rather than a widespread tradition.
Machel first appeared in U.S. records in 1958, likely as a modern coinage or a respelling of Michelle. It peaked in 1962 but remains rare, with no clear linguistic derivation. Its usage has been minimal, suggesting an idiosyncratic formation.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shel, Mac
Sibling names for Machel
Names that share Machel's style, for a brother or sister.
