UK boy's name
Mikkel
A traditionally Scandinavian masculine name derived from the name Michael, meaning "who is like God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mikkel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mikkel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 6 births.
This profile covers 56 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1997 to 2022. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 56 living people in the UK are called Mikkel. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mikkel ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 6 boys were registered as Mikkel.
- • About 56 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mikkel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
6 births
Estimated living
56
2026
Meaning
What does Mikkel mean?
The given name Mikkel has its origins in the Danish and Norwegian languages, and is a variant of the name Michael, which in turn is derived from the Hebrew name Mikha'el. The name Michael means "who is like God" in Hebrew, with "mi" meaning "who", "ke" meaning "like", and "El" referring to God.
Mikkel emerged as a popular name in Scandinavia during the Middle Ages, particularly in Denmark and Norway. It is believed that the name was introduced to the region through the spread of Christianity, as many biblical names became popular during this time.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Mikkel can be found in the Danish Chronicle of Saxo Grammaticus, written in the early 13th century. In this historical work, a character named Mikkel is mentioned as a Danish nobleman.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mikkel. One of the most famous was Mikkel Rasmussen (1508-1584), a Danish Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the Reformation in Denmark.
Another prominent figure with the name Mikkel was Mikkel Pedersson (1543-1628), a Norwegian writer and historian who authored the first comprehensive history of Norway, known as the "Norges Beskrivelse" (Description of Norway).
In the field of art, the Danish painter Mikkel Sverre (1887-1964) gained recognition for his landscapes and portraits, and his works are held in various museums across Scandinavia.
Mikkel Arenfeldt Fjelldal (1910-1992) was a Norwegian architect and urban planner who made significant contributions to the development of Oslo's architectural landscape in the mid-20th century.
More recently, Mikkel Hansen (born 1987) is a Danish handball player who has won numerous championships and accolades, including being named the World Handball Player of the Year in 2011 and 2015.
While the name Mikkel has its roots in Scandinavia, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in regions with Danish or Norwegian cultural influence.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mikkel over time
The chart below shows babies named Mikkel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mikkel, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mikkel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mikkel 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 | #4213 | 11 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3997 | 12 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3275 | 24 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2352 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Mikkel
- 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
Mikkel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mikkel in the UK right now?
In 2022, Mikkel was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Mikkel most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 6 babies registered as Mikkel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mikkel?
A traditionally Scandinavian masculine name derived from the name Michael, meaning "who is like God".
How many people are called Mikkel in the UK?
A total of 56 babies have been registered as Mikkel across the 14 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.