Rising since 2008, #4,249 for boys today.
Popularity of Maykel since 2008
Babies named Maykel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 7 |
| 2010s | 74 |
| 2020s | 223 |
Meaning & origin
Maykel is a modern respelling of Michael that entered U.S. records in 2008, a time when phonetic and creative spellings of traditional names became increasingly popular. Its rank of 4,249 in 2025 reflects modest usage, with a 1-in-71,170 frequency among newborns. The name reached its peak rank in 2022, and its trajectory since first appearing in 2008 has been consistently rising, suggesting growing but still niche appeal. As a variant, Maykel carries the same strong biblical and angelic associations as Michael while offering a distinctive spelling that sets it apart in a classroom setting.
Maykel is a modern respelling of Michael, derived from the Hebrew name Mikha'el, a rhetorical question meaning 'who is like God?' appearing in the Hebrew Bible as the name of an archangel. The spelling with 'y' reflects an English phonetic interpretation, and its use in the United States has been recorded since 2008.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mike, Mikey, Mayk
Sibling names for Maykel
Names that share Maykel's style, for a brother or sister.
