Male Polish given name · rank 22 among male names (2024)
/ˈmi.xaw/ · MEE-hahw
Michał comes from the Hebrew rhetorical question "Mi-cha-El", meaning "Who is like God?". The question expects no answer — it affirms that none can equal God. The name therefore carries the sense of a confession of faith and humility before the Creator.
The name is closely tied to the figure of the Archangel Michael, in biblical tradition the leader of the heavenly hosts and vanquisher of Satan. Through the archangel's cult it spread across the Christian world, reaching Poland with its Christianization. Since the Middle Ages it has been among the most frequently bestowed of Polish male names.
It derives from the Hebrew "mîkhāʼēl", formed from "mî" (who), "kə" (like) and "ʼēl" (God). It entered Polish through Greek and Latin, where it took the forms Michaēl and Michael.
| Nominative | Michał |
| Genitive | Michała |
| Dative | Michałowi |
| Accusative | Michała |
| Instrumental | Michałem |
| Locative | Michale |
| Vocative | Michale |
In Poland, Michał celebrates its name day on 8 May, 29 September.
Michałek, Michaś, Misiek, Misio, Michu, Michałko.
Equivalents in other languages include Michael (English, German), Michel and Michaël (French), Miguel (Spanish, Portuguese), Michele (Italian) and Mykhailo (Ukrainian).
Michał has remained near the top of Poland's most popular male names for decades and stays a classic, dependable choice for parents.