Mikhail
Meaning of Mikhail
The name Mikhail is a male given name of Russian origin, pronounced as mee-KAH-eel (/miːˈxajl/) in Russian and my-KEL (/maɪˈkɛl/) in English. It is a variant of the Hebrew name Michael, which means "Who is like God?" The name has deep historical and cultural significance, often associated with strength and leadership. Notable bearers include Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, and Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time. In the United States, Mikhail has been used consistently over the years but remains relatively uncommon. Its popularity peaked in 1990 with a rank of 949 but has since seen fluctuating occurrences. Variations of this classic name include Mikael and Michael, offering parents a range of options rooted in tradition yet versatile enough for modern use.
Pronunciation
Russian
- Pronunced as mee-KAH-eel (/miːˈxajl/)
English
- Pronunced as my-KEL (/maɪˈkɛl/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Mikhail
| Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union, serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party and later as the country's President from 1985 to 1991. |
| Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov was a prominent Russian Romantic writer and poet, known for his significant impact on Russian literature and the development of the psychological novel tradition. |
| Mikhail Bulgakov was a prominent Russian writer and playwright known for his posthumously published masterpiece, The Master and Margarita. |
| Mikhail Baryshnikov is a renowned Latvian-American dancer, choreographer, and actor, known as the leading male classical dancer of the 1970s and 1980s. |
| Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov was a renowned Soviet and Russian lieutenant general, inventor, and small arms designer, best known for creating the iconic AK-47 assault rifle and its variations. |
| Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov, a Russian novelist and Nobel Prize winner, is renowned for his portrayal of the Don Cossacks' experiences during the Russian Revolution, civil war, and collectivization in his notable work, And Quiet Flows the Don. |
| Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka, the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition in his country, is considered the originator of Russian classical music and a significant influence on other Russian composers. |
| Mikhail Fabianovich Gnessin, a Russian Jewish composer and teacher, was known as the "Jewish Glinka" for his notable works The Maccabeans and The Youth of Abraham. |
| Mikhail Dmitriyevich Skobelev, a Russian general known as the "White General", gained fame for his conquest of Central Asia and his heroism in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. |
| Mikhail Sergeyevich Kedrov was a prominent Russian Soviet communist politician and revolutionary known for his role as head of the military section of the Cheka. |
| Mikhail Georgiyevich Pervukhin was a prominent Soviet official who served as the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers during the Stalin and Khrushchev Eras. |
| Mikhail Vladislavovich Tyurin is a former Russian cosmonaut known for his multiple missions to the International Space Station and his four spacewalks, earning him the title Hero of the Russian Federation. |
| Mikhail Ilyukhin is a retired Russian mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who competed in the light heavyweight division, notably in Fighting Network Rings and Pride Fighting Championships. |
| Mikhail Shifman - Mikhail "Misha" Arkadyevich Shifman is a renowned theoretical physicist known for his work at the Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics in Moscow and as the Ida Cohen Fine Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Minnesota. |
| Mikhail Vladimirovich Degtyarev is the current Governor of Khabarovsk Krai, a Russian politician who assumed office on 24 September 2021. |
