Holding steady.
Popularity of Machele since 1953
Babies named Machele per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 66 |
| 1960s | 209 |
| 1970s | 98 |
| 1980s | 8 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Machele is a respelling of Michelle that appeared in U.S. records as early as 1953, part of a wave of creative name variants in the mid-20th century. The name peaked in 1967, when it was given to a small number of girls, and has since become quite rare. Its trajectory has been stable in recent decades, with very few new registrations. Although Machele never entered the top 1000, its peak year of 1967 reflects a time when Michelle itself was at its height. Today, the name is an uncommon but recognizable choice, signaling a vintage, mid-century style.
Machele is a respelled variant of Michelle, the French feminine form of Michel, derived from the Hebrew name Michael (מִיכָאֵל), meaning 'who is like God?'. This spelling emerged in mid-20th century America as part of a trend of creative respellings of established names, particularly as a way to distinguish or individualize the traditional Michelle. It has seen sporadic use since the 1950s, with a peak in 1967.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mache, Shelly, Chelly
Sibling names for Machele
Names that share Machele's style, for a brother or sister.
