UK girl's name
Michala
A feminine diminutive form of Michael, meaning "who is like God?".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Michala is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Michala popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5742, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 4 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1996 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Michala. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Michala ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 4 girls were registered as Michala.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Michala as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5742
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
4 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Michala mean?
The name Michala has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, emerging during the ancient times of the Middle East. It is a feminine form derived from the Hebrew name Michael, which means "who is like God" or "gift from God." The name carries a deep religious and spiritual significance within the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Michala's roots can be traced back to the Biblical figure of the Archangel Michael, who is revered as a protector and a warrior against evil in various religious texts. The name is mentioned in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation, where Michael is portrayed as a powerful celestial being leading the armies of heaven against the forces of darkness.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Michala dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in medieval German texts as Michaela. Over the centuries, the name evolved and gained popularity across various European cultures, with variations such as Michaela, Micaela, and Michela emerging in different regions.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Michala. One such figure was Michala of Valois (1324-1404), a French princess who became the Duchess of Bourbon through her marriage to Louis II, Duke of Bourbon. Another prominent bearer of the name was Michala de la Pole (1470-1515), an English noblewoman and the daughter of John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk.
In the realm of arts and culture, Michala Petri (born 1958) is a renowned Danish recorder player and conductor, widely acclaimed for her contributions to the revival of the recorder as a serious concert instrument. Michala Banas (born 1974) is a Polish actress and singer who has gained recognition for her roles in various films and television series.
The name Michala has also been carried by several notable athletes, such as Michala Čiková (born 1983), a Slovak tennis player who has won multiple titles on the ITF Women's Circuit, and Michala Kvapilová (born 1992), a Czech professional golfer who has competed on the Ladies European Tour.
While the name Michala has maintained a strong presence throughout history, its popularity has ebbed and flowed across different regions and time periods. Nonetheless, it remains a name steeped in rich cultural heritage, embodying themes of strength, protection, and divine grace.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Michala over time
The chart below shows babies named Michala registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Michala, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Michala by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Michala was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5742 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3970 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3383 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Michala
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Michala: questions and answers
How popular is the name Michala in the UK right now?
In 2013, Michala was ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Michala most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 4 babies registered as Michala in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Michala?
A feminine diminutive form of Michael, meaning "who is like God?".
How many people are called Michala in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Michala across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.