Meaning: Its source is Michael, a Hebrew name meaning "Who resembles God."

Languages: This girl's name is used in Italian and Spanish.

Alternative Spellings: Makaela

Popularity: The name Micaela ranked 698th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 1303rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: The French feminine forms of this name have been adopted by a large number of European languages. Though ultimately derived from the Hebrew original, their closest ancestor is the male French name Michel.

Awareness of this name was undoubtedly boosted by the immense popularity of Lennon and McCartney's 1965 ballad ''Michelle.'' Clearly addressed to a French girl (the lyrics rhyme her name with ma belle -- ''my beauty''), it reinforced the exotic, romantic impression this name can make.