Declining since 2021, #5,608 for boys today.
Popularity of Mishael since 1969
Babies named Mishael per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | 0 |
| 1970s | 28 | 6 |
| 1980s | 29 | 49 |
| 1990s | 48 | 95 |
| 2000s | 58 | 116 |
| 2010s | 10 | 105 |
| 2020s | 9 | 89 |
Meaning & origin
Mishael is a biblical name from the Book of Daniel, where he is one of three Hebrew youths thrown into the fiery furnace. Despite its ancient roots, the name has been rare in modern U.S. usage, first appearing on record in 1977. As of 2025, it ranked 5608, with an estimated 1 in 106755 boys given the name. Its popularity peaked in 2021, though it has been declining since, showing a trajectory of decreasing use. The name has not been concentrated in any particular state. Mishael offers a distinctive alternative to the more common Michael, while retaining a similar sound and meaning.
Mishael is a biblical name from the Hebrew מִישָׁאֵל (Misha'el), likely meaning 'Who is what God is?' or 'Who is like God?' (compare Michael). In the Book of Daniel, Mishael is one of three young men thrown into the fiery furnace along with Hananiah and Azariah; they were renamed by the Babylonians, though Mishael's Babylonian name is not explicitly given. Jewish families have used it since antiquity, and it also appears among Christians as a variant of Michael. Its use in English-speaking countries has been rare but shows a mild increase in the late 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Misha, Mish, Mike, Shelly
Sibling names for Mishael
Names that share Mishael's style, for a brother or sister.
