UK name, mostly boys
Mikal
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew name Michael, meaning "who is like God?".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3 girls.
Mikal is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Mikal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2020 to 2021. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Mikal. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mikal ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 3 boys were registered as Mikal.
- • Mikal is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mikal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 66.7% of Mikal registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2020
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Mikal
In England and Wales birth records, Mikal has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 66.7% of registrations are for boys and 33.3% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Mikal registered for boys
- Ranked #4,789 in 2021
- 3 boys registered in 2021
- Peak: 2020 (3 births)
Mikal registered for girls
- Ranked #5,556 in 2009
- 3 girls registered in 2009
- Peak: 2009 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Mikal mean?
The name Mikal has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is a variant spelling of the biblical name Michael, which is derived from the Hebrew words "mi" meaning "who" and "ka-el" meaning "like God." The name essentially translates to "who is like God?"
In the Old Testament, Michael is the name of an archangel, one of the principal angels in the Jewish faith. He is mentioned in the Book of Daniel as the protector of Israel and is also regarded as the leader of the heavenly armies against Satan and his forces.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mikal can be found in the First Book of Samuel, where it is the name of King Saul's younger daughter and the wife of David. This Mikal played a significant role in the biblical narrative, helping David escape from her father's wrath.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Mikal or its various spellings. One of the most famous was Mikal the Elder, a 12th-century Jewish philosopher and scholar from Spain, known for his commentary on the Torah and his work on Jewish law.
Another prominent figure was Mikal Singh Bedwa, an 18th-century Rajput warrior and ruler of the Bedwa clan in present-day Rajasthan, India. He was known for his valor and military prowess in battles against the Mughal Empire.
In the realm of literature, Mikal Gilmore was a notable American writer and journalist born in 1946. He is best known for his critically acclaimed biography of Gary Gilmore, his cousin, titled "Shot in the Heart."
Mikal Muharremović, born in 1952, was a Bosnian writer and journalist who wrote extensively about the Bosnian War and the siege of Sarajevo, where he lived during the conflict.
Lastly, Mikal Kirchner, born in 1957, is a renowned American film and television director, known for his work on shows like "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared."
These are just a few examples of the rich history and diverse cultural significance associated with the name Mikal throughout the ages.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mikal over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Mikal in England and Wales, from 2009 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mikal, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mikal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mikal 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 | #4699 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Mikal
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Mikal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mikal in the UK right now?
In 2021, Mikal was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mikal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 3 babies registered as Mikal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mikal?
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew name Michael, meaning "who is like God?".
How many people are called Mikal in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Mikal across the 2 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.