Declining since 1989, #1,231 for boys today.
Popularity of Mike since 1880
Babies named Mike per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 779 |
| 1890s | 828 |
| 1900s | 1,281 |
| 1910s | 7,942 |
| 1920s | 9,076 |
| 1930s | 8,028 |
| 1940s | 34,645 |
| 1950s | 48,345 |
| 1960s | 71,456 |
| 1970s | 10,304 |
| 1980s | 3,509 |
| 1990s | 3,287 |
| 2000s | 3,120 |
| 2010s | 2,130 |
| 2020s | 1,131 |
Meaning & origin
Mike, a familiar short form of Michael, has been in continuous use since the 1880s. The name reached its peak popularity in 1960, when it was the 8th most popular boy name in the United States. Since 1989 its usage has been declining. In 2025 Mike ranked 1,231st, with a 1-in-10,479 birth rate. Top states where Mike is popular include Florida, New Jersey, and New York. The name evokes a friendly, approachable image, often associated with the middle of the 20th century.
Mike is a medieval diminutive of Michael, from the Hebrew Mi-ka-el, a rhetorical question meaning 'who is like God?' Michael appears in the Bible as an archangel and became a popular given name across the Christian world. Mike emerged as a common nickname in the 19th century, subsequently used as an independent given name, particularly in the United States.
Where Mike is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mike” around the world
Where Mike lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Quebec
12
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Mike
Names that share Mike's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Mike
Names whose popularity has moved with Mike's over the last 50 years.
