UK girl's name
Michella
A feminine variant of Michael, of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Michella is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Michella popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 4 births.
This profile covers 19 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 19 living people in the UK are called Michella. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Michella ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 4 girls were registered as Michella.
- • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Michella as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
4 births
Estimated living
19
2026
Meaning
What does Michella mean?
The name Michella is a feminine form of the name Michael, which has its origins in the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el). It is derived from the Hebrew words מי כמו אל (mi kamo el), which translate to "Who is like God?". The name Michael was initially used in the Bible to refer to one of the archangels, and it gained popularity among Christians and Jews alike.
The name Michella emerged as a variant spelling in several European languages, including Italian, Spanish, and French. In Italian, the name is spelled Michela, while in Spanish and French, it is spelled Michella. The earliest recorded use of the name Michella dates back to the late Middle Ages, although it was not as widespread as its masculine counterpart, Michael.
One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Michella was Michella de Rouvray, a French noblewoman who lived in the 14th century. She was the wife of Jean de Rouvray, a prominent knight during the Hundred Years' War between England and France.
In the 16th century, Michella de la Vega was a Spanish poet and writer who gained recognition for her works during the Golden Age of Spanish literature. She was born in Seville in 1550 and passed away in 1620.
During the 17th century, Michella Gozzadini was an Italian painter and engraver who was born in Bologna in 1624. She is known for her religious paintings and engravings, many of which can be found in churches and galleries throughout Italy.
In the 18th century, Michella Ferrero was an Italian mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the fields of calculus and natural philosophy. She was born in Turin in 1728 and died in 1799.
Another notable figure with the name Michella was Michella Caetani, an Italian noblewoman and philanthropist who lived in the 19th century. She was born in Rome in 1824 and devoted her life to charitable causes, establishing several schools and hospitals for the underprivileged.
While the name Michella has its roots in ancient Hebrew and gained popularity in various European cultures, it has maintained a more niche presence throughout history compared to its masculine counterpart, Michael. However, it continues to be used as a feminine variant, carrying with it the essence of the original Hebrew meaning, "Who is like God?".
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Michella over time
The chart below shows babies named Michella registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Michella, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Michella by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Michella 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5687 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5758 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #5303 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3126 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Michella
- 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
Michella: questions and answers
How popular is the name Michella in the UK right now?
In 2023, Michella was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Michella most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 4 babies registered as Michella in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Michella?
A feminine variant of Michael, of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
How many people are called Michella in the UK?
A total of 19 babies have been registered as Michella across the 6 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.