Michaela
Say it: mih-KAY-la
GirlMeans a feminine form of Michael, "who is like God"8 letters3 syllables
#273
in Ireland (2025)
#276 with spellings combined
15
babies in 2025
#49
best rank (1998)
1,805
babies since 1969
Down 91
10-year rank change
Michaela through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | #276 |
| 2024 | 16 | #265 |
| 2023 | 16 | #248 |
| 2022 | 18 | #240 |
| 2021 | 16 | #273 |
| 2020 | 18 | #248 |
| 2019 | 16 | #284 |
| 2018 | 18 | #255 |
| 2017 | 25 | #205 |
| 2016 | 35 | #156 |
| 2015 | 30 | #185 |
| 2014 | 42 | #139 |
| 2013 | 48 | #130 |
| 2012 | 61 | #108 |
| 2011 | 91 | #78 |
| 2010 | 38 | #164 |
| 2009 | 33 | #183 |
| 2008 | 46 | #134 |
| 2007 | 57 | #103 |
| 2006 | 34 | #148 |
| 2005 | 53 | #107 |
| 2004 | 62 | #90 |
| 2003 | 53 | #94 |
| 2002 | 52 | #94 |
| 2001 | 74 | #70 |
| 2000 | 72 | #68 |
| 1999 | 78 | #58 |
| 1998 | 85 | #49 |
| 1997 | 114 | #53 |
| 1996 | 100 | #54 |
| 1995 | 79 | #68 |
| 1994 | 83 | #66 |
| 1993 | 42 | #125 |
| 1992 | 34 | #152 |
| 1991 | 33 | #154 |
| 1990 | 34 | #148 |
| 1989 | 12 | #272 |
| 1988 | 10 | #304 |
| 1986 | 3 | #521 |
| 1985 | 6 | #386 |
| 1984 | 4 | #459 |
| 1983 | 3 | #529 |
| 1982 | 4 | #467 |
| 1981 | 4 | #471 |
| 1979 | 3 | #523 |
| 1978 | 6 | #388 |
| 1977 | 4 | #468 |
| 1976 | 3 | #497 |
| 1975 | 4 | #455 |
| 1974 | 5 | #393 |
| 1973 | 4 | #449 |
| 1972 | 3 | #471 |
| 1970 | 3 | #447 |
| 1969 | 3 | #443 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Michaela mean?
A feminine form of Michael, "who is like God"
Feminine form of Michael, from Hebrew, shaped by the Spanish and Portuguese Micaela.
Say it right
mihKAYla
The story of Michaela
Michaela is a feminine form of Michael, a Hebrew name usually explained as a question: “Who is like God?” English speakers took it up in the twentieth century, first in Britain from the 1950s and later in the United States, partly from the Spanish and Portuguese Micaela. It has many spellings, including Mikayla and Makayla.
Michael has long been one of the most common boys’ names in Ireland, so Michaela was an easy fit for Irish families.
In Ireland it first reached the CSO list in 1969. It was at its height around the turn of the century, reaching number 49 in 1998 with 85 girls. Northern Ireland followed a similar path, with its best rank of number 96 also in 1998. The CSO counts the other spellings separately, so Mikayla and Makayla are not included here. In 2025, 15 girls were named Michaela.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Michaela (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Michaela
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
MickeyMicki
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Michaela | 15 | 1,805 |
In Northern Ireland
#397 in 2025 with 3 babies. Best rank #96 (1998); 270 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.