Mike (English)
Where does "Mike" come from?
The English given name 'Mike' is a shortened form of 'Michael'[1]. The name 'Michael' traveled from Biblical Hebrew 'מִיכָאֵל', meaning 'who is like God?', into Ancient Greek 'Μῐχᾱήλ', and subsequently into Latin 'Michaēl'[2]. From there, it passed through Old English 'Michahel', Old French 'Michel', and Middle English 'Michael' before reaching modern English[2].
Full etymology tree
- Mike (English), 'A diminutive of the male given name Michael.'
- clipping Michael (English), 'A male given name from Hebrew.'
- inherited Michael (Middle English), 'alternative form of Michel'
- derived Michel (Old French)
- derived Michael (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- borrowed Μιχαήλ (Mikhaél) (Ancient Greek), 'a Hebrew and Christian male given name, Michael, from Hebrew, famously held by the Archangel Michael'
- derived מִיכָאעֵל (mîḵāʾēl) (Biblical Hebrew)
- borrowed Μιχαήλ (Mikhaél) (Ancient Greek), 'a Hebrew and Christian male given name, Michael, from Hebrew, famously held by the Archangel Michael'
- derived Michael (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- inherited Michahel (Old English), 'a male given name from Latin'
- derived Michael (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- borrowed Μιχαήλ (Mikhaél) (Ancient Greek), 'a Hebrew and Christian male given name, Michael, from Hebrew, famously held by the Archangel Michael'
- derived מִיכָאעֵל (mîḵāʾēl) (Biblical Hebrew)
- borrowed Μιχαήλ (Mikhaél) (Ancient Greek), 'a Hebrew and Christian male given name, Michael, from Hebrew, famously held by the Archangel Michael'
- derived Michael (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- derived Michael (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- borrowed Μιχαήλ (Mikhaél) (Ancient Greek), 'a Hebrew and Christian male given name, Michael, from Hebrew, famously held by the Archangel Michael'
- derived מִיכָאעֵל (mîḵāʾēl) (Biblical Hebrew)
- borrowed Μιχαήλ (Mikhaél) (Ancient Greek), 'a Hebrew and Christian male given name, Michael, from Hebrew, famously held by the Archangel Michael'
- derived Michel (Old French)
- inherited Michael (Middle English), 'alternative form of Michel'
- clipping Michael (English), 'A male given name from Hebrew.'
Descendants and derived words
- Big Mike (English)
- Big Mike (English)
- Iron Mike (English)
- Iron Mike (English)
- MAGA Mike (English)
- Mike Obama (English)
- Moscow Mike (English)
- מייק (Hebrew)
Sources
Updated October 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris