Mitchell
Mitchell was the 954th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 245 babies. Its best year was 1994, when it ranked 71st with 5,370 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 368 places. More babies were named Mitchell in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning from Michel (Michael); or 'big' · English, Hebrew
Say it MICH-ul /ˈmɪtʃəl/
- Rank in 2025
- #954 boys, down 228 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 245boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19945,370 babies
- Total since 1880
- 165,191babies recorded
What does the name Mitchell mean?
Mitchell is an English and Scottish surname with two sources, according to Wiktionary: a Middle English form of the Old French given name Michel (Michael), and in some cases the Middle English nickname muchel 'big'. Michael is Hebrew Mikhaʾel 'who is like God?'. Mitchell became a common boys' first name in the US in the mid-20th century.
Michel (Old French, “Michael”)מִיכָאֵל (Mikhaʾel) (Biblical Hebrew, “who is like God?”)muchel (Middle English, “big”)
How sure is this? Well established. Two possible sources; the Michael origin is more common.
Related names: Michael, Mitch, Michel.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Mitchell', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Michael', DMNES (Durham University)
Nicknames for Mitchell
The usual nicknames for Mitchell are Mitch.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitch | Traditional | #11,548 | 41 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Mitchells go by each one.
Mitchell popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,128 since 1913.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #954 | 245 |
| 2020 | #726 | 342 |
| 2010 | #387 | 737 |
| 2000 | #132 | 2,983 |
| 1990 | #93 | 4,021 |
| 1980 | #164 | 1,521 |
| 1970 | #179 | 1,541 |
| 1960 | #126 | 2,973 |
| 1950 | #181 | 1,224 |
| 1940 | #312 | 325 |
| 1930 | #364 | 247 |
| 1920 | #271 | 415 |
| 1910 | #273 | 82 |
| 1900 | #289 | 52 |
| 1890 | #319 | 30 |
| 1880 | #298 | 32 |
How popular is Mitchell, counting every spelling?
Mitchell is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #890 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #954 for Mitchell on its own. Together these spellings went to 255 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell | 245 | #954 | 1,406 |
| Mitchel | 10 | #8,037 | 68 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Mitchell?
245 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Mitchell (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Mitchell born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 34 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Mitchell.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Mitchell?
About 134,900 people born in the US named Mitchell are alive today, with a median age of 37; half are between 29 and 58. That makes Mitchell mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Mitchell by state
How common Mitchell was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Mississippi (2.5×), Michigan (1.9×), Ohio (1.8×), Maryland (1.7×), Louisiana (1.7×). In 19 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Mitchell: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Mitchell, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Mitchell · Sibling names for Mitchell
Questions about the name Mitchell
What does Mitchell mean?
Mitchell means “from Michel (Michael); or 'big'” (English, Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Mitchell?
Mitchell was the 954th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 245 babies. Its best year was 1994, when it ranked 71st with 5,370 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 368 places. More babies were named Mitchell in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Mitchell a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Mitchell in the US.
Where is Mitchell most popular?
In 2021–2025, Mitchell was most common in Mississippi (0.41 per 1,000 boys), followed by Michigan and Ohio.