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Michele

Girl / Boy name · 431 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Michele: 431 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 67 births in 1974.

Michele is the Italian form of Michael, ultimately from the Hebrew *Mikha'el* meaning "who is like God?" – a rhetorical question emphasising God's uniqueness. In English-speaking countries, it is typically a feminine variant of Michael, often spelled Michelle, though in Italy it remains a popular male name. Notable bearers include the American actress Michele Pfeiffer, known for *Scarface* and *Batman Returns*, and Michele Lee, who starred in *Knots Landing*. There is also Michele Obama, though her name is more commonly given as Michelle. No major place connections come directly from this name, but its root does appear in the archangel Michael, after whom countless churches and towns are named. A further note: Michele can also be a surname, most famously held by 16th-century Venetian painter Michele di Giovanni.