Mike (English)
Where does "Mike" come from?
The name Mike originated as a shortened, informal version of Michael. This longer root name traces its history back to the Hebrew 'Mikha'el,' meaning 'Who is like God?' Over time, it transitioned into English as a familiar, masculine diminutive and is now also used for the feminine Michaela.
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'
- borrowed Michel (Old French)
- inherited Michaēl (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- borrowed Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl) (Ancient Greek)
- borrowed מִיכָאֵל (mîḵāʾēl) (Biblical Hebrew)
- borrowed Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl) (Ancient Greek)
- inherited Michaēl (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- inherited Michahel (Old English), 'a male given name from Latin'
- borrowed Michaēl (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- borrowed Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl) (Ancient Greek)
- borrowed מִיכָאֵל (mîḵāʾēl) (Biblical Hebrew)
- borrowed Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl) (Ancient Greek)
- borrowed Michaēl (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- borrowed Michaēl (Latin), 'a male given name, Michael, from Hebrew'
- borrowed Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl) (Ancient Greek)
- borrowed מִיכָאֵל (mîḵāʾēl) (Biblical Hebrew)
- borrowed Μῐχᾱήλ (Mĭkhāḗl) (Ancient Greek)
- borrowed Michel (Old French)
- inherited Michael (Middle English), 'alternative form of Michel'
- clipping Michael (English), 'A male given name from Hebrew.'
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris