Not Always an Angel, "Michael" is America's Favorite Male Name

IN A NUTSHELL
* Michael is pronounced "MY kuhl" or "mee kah el." "Michael" is a form of "Micha." The language of origin is Hebrew. The generic meaning is "who is like (unto) God."
* Michael is a male name given primarily in English, French and German speaking countries and other countries of Europe.
* Michael appears in the Old Testament of The Bible. It also appears in the New Testament. Most noteably, Michael is the name of an archangel closest to God.
* Michael has been a name among European royalty, Byzantine emperors, and one czar of Russia.

IN THE NAME OF
"Michael" is the (1) war-cry of the angels, (2) patron saint of chivalry and of the first chivalric order, (3) patron saint of the warrior, (4) protector of Israel, (5) the teacher of Moses, (6) angelic healer, (7) champion of Jews, champion of Christians, (8) Christian Angel of Death, (9) supreme enemy of Satan, (10) arguably, in collective Christianity and Judaism, Michael is THE Archangel [first, primary, chief...messenger] of God - Islam holds Michael or Mikhail is second to Gabriel and essentially is the angel associated with blessings.

BIBLICAL BACKGROUD AND SIGNIFICANCE
There are fifteen citations of "Michael" in The Bible: once in Numbers (13:13), seven times in 1 Chronicles (5:13, 5:14, 6:40, 7:3, 8:16, 12:20, 27:18), once in 2 Chronicles (21:2), once in Ezra (8:8), three times in Daniel (10:13, 10:21, 12:1), once in Jude (1:9), and once in Revelation (12:7). As archangel, there are other implied references; for example I Thessalonians 4:16. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, cited in the Christian Old and New Testaments and the Jewish Tanakh (Torah and Ketuvim), "Michael" has a well-grounded religious background.

The most famous citations are:

Daniel 12
Verse 1
The End Times
1 At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-everyone whose name is found written in the book-will be delivered.
[Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=34&chapter=12&verse=1&version=31&context=verse ]

See Michael in the context of the complete 12th chapter of Daniel .

Hear Michael in the context of the 12th chapter of Daniel .

and:

Revelation 12
Verse 7
7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
[Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=73&chapter=12&verse=7&version=31&context=verse ]

See Michael In the context of the complete 12th chapter of Revelation .

Hear Michael in the context of 12th chapter of Revelation .

POPULARITY
In 1907, there were 47 other names more popular than Michael. By 1943, Michael had broken into the Top Ten. Michael reached the top in 1954. Except for 1960, Michael was the number one, most popular male name in America for the next 44 years. In 1999, Jacob passed Michael. From then through 2006, Jacob has remained #1 and Michael #2. (During that time, the difference between Jacob, at #1, and Michael, at #2, has risen and fallen around 2,000 or so. The #3 name, "Joshua," continues to close on Michael (and Jacob). In 2006, the difference between Michael and Joshua was 345.)

28 MICHAEL'S YOU SHOULD KNOW

Michael Andretti
Formula One and CARTprofessional racecar driver
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Andretti )

Michael Bloomberg
Political figure, mayor of New York City
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg )

Michael Bolton aka Michael Bolotin
Singer, songwriter
(Hear and see " How am I Supposed to Live Without You? " )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bolton )

Michael Bublé
Singer
(See http://www.michaelbuble.com/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bubl%C3%A9 )

Michael Caine aka Maurice Micklewhite
Actor
(See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000323/ )
(See http://www.michaelcaine.com/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Caine )

Michael Chertoff
Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
(See http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/biography_0116.shtm )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chertoff )

Michael Clayton
Movie starring George Clooney
(See http://michaelclayton.warnerbros.com/ )
(See http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=202503&Sn=WORL&IssueID=30265 )

Michael Crichton
Writer, filmmaker
Recent works include State of Fear, The Andromeda Strain, and Jurassic Park.
(See http://www.michaelcrichton.net/aboutmichaelcrichton-biography.html )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Crichton )

Michael Douglas
Actor, producer
(See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000140/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Douglas )

Michael Eisner
Entertainment executive (The Walt Disney Company, et al.)
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Eisner )
(See http://www.michaeleisner.com/ )

Michael J. Fox
Actor, et al.
(See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000150/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Fox )
(See http://www.michaeljfox.org/ )

Michael Ironside
Actor, producer
(See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000461/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ironside )

Michael Jackson
Musician, entertainer, pop icon, et al.
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson )

Michael Jordan
Professional NBA basketball player, et al
(See http://www.nba.com/playerfile/michael_jordan/index.html )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jordan )

Michael Keaton aka Michael Keaton Douglas
Actor
(See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Keaton )

Michael Kennedy
Political figure, activist (son of Robert F. Kennedy)
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kennedy )
(See http://www.cnn.com/US/9712/31/kennedy.update.2/ )

Michael McDonald
Singer, song writer, entertainer
(See http://www.michaelmcdonald.com/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_McDonald_(singer) )

Michael Madsen
Actor, producer
(See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000514/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Madsen )

Michael K. Miller
Writer
(See http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/90928/michael_k_miller.html )
(See http://www.myspace.com/3rdmillenniummoses )

Michael Moore
Filmmaker and writer
(See http://www.michaelmoore.com/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Moore )

Michael Pollan
Writer, teacher, speaker
Recent works include The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.
(See http://www.michaelpollan.com/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Pollan )

Michael Reagan
Radio talkshow host (oldest son of President Ronald Reagan)
(See http://www.reagan.com/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Reagan )

Michael Schumacher
Formula One racecar driver
(See http://www.mschumacher.com/ )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Schumacher )

(Elizabeth Taylor)
Two of Elizabeth Taylor's seven husbands were named Michael - Michael Wilding and Michael Todd.
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Wilding_(actor) )
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Todd )

Michael Vick
Professional NFL football player, et al.
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Vick )

Michael Waltrip
Professional NASCAR racecar driver
(See http://www.michaelwaltrip.com/ )

Michael Wilbon
Sports columnist with The Washington Post
(See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/03/24/LI2005032400073.html )

Coming soon! What's in a Name: Jacob! What's in a Name: Joshua! What's in a Name: Other Biblical Names!