Meaning: Its source is a Hebrew expression meaning "Who resembles God."

Languages: This boy's name is used in Dutch and French.

Feminine Forms: Michelina and Micheline

Popularity: The name Michel ranked 627th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: In the Jewish and Christian scriptures and other religious writings, the archangel Michael is identified as captain of God's army, humanity's intercessor with the divine, and an eternal recorder who tracks our deeds and misdeeds in a great heavenly book. He is often depicted carrying a flaming sword, and sometimes guarding the gates of Paradise.

The consistently high popularity of this name in the U.S. cannot be attributed with certainty to any one factor. It may be due simply to the pleasant sound of the name. It is also possible that no one has ever devised a more congenial nickname for a boy than Mike!

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

This spelling is usually reserved for boys in French-speaking cultures.

Popularity: The name Michel ranked 2222nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

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.