Mickey

Meaning of Mickey

Mickey began life as the affectionate Irish-English pet form of the mighty Michael—Hebrew for “Who is like God?”—yet over the past century this sprite of a name has danced out from behind its big brother’s shadow and claimed a spotlight all its own. It’s impossible to hear Mickey without picturing at least one friendly set of ears, whether they belong to Disney’s cheery mouse, Yankee slugger Mickey Mantle, or Hollywood’s tough-guy actor Mickey Rourke, and that built-in pop-culture sparkle gives the name a wink of perpetual youthfulness. At the same time, the vintage charm of Mickey summons images of soda-shop jukeboxes and summertime sandlots, reminding parents that simple joy never goes out of style. Short, lively, and easy to say, Mickey offers a warm handshake of familiarity while leaving plenty of room for a child to script his own larger-than-life adventure.