Declining since 2000, #1,919 for boys today.
Popularity of Mikel since 1882
Babies named Mikel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 | 0 |
| 1900s | 0 | 0 |
| 1910s | 0 | 35 |
| 1920s | 0 | 46 |
| 1930s | 13 | 50 |
| 1940s | 56 | 430 |
| 1950s | 46 | 1,503 |
| 1960s | 91 | 1,144 |
| 1970s | 174 | 1,261 |
| 1980s | 218 | 1,438 |
| 1990s | 221 | 1,699 |
| 2000s | 143 | 1,805 |
| 2010s | 33 | 1,516 |
| 2020s | 0 | 627 |
Meaning & origin
Mikel, the Basque form of Michael, has been used in the United States since at least 1882, when it first appeared in Social Security records. Its popularity peaked in 2004, and since 2000 it has been on a gradual decline in usage. In 2025, Mikel ranked 1919th overall, with about 1 in every 21,087 male births receiving the name. The name is most common in states with significant Basque heritage, such as North Carolina, Florida, and Texas, reflecting both historical immigration patterns and contemporary cultural appreciation.
Mikel is the Basque form of Michael, derived from the Hebrew name Mikha'el, meaning 'who is like God?' The name Michael appears in the Bible as an archangel and has been widely used across Christian cultures. The Basque form Mikel has been common in the Basque Country and Navarre since at least the Middle Ages, and it spread to other Spanish-speaking regions and beyond through emigration.
Where Mikel 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.
“Mikel” around the world
Where Mikel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mike, Miki
Sibling names for Mikel
Names that share Mikel's style, for a brother or sister.
