Michal - Michael

Note that there are two names which sound the same but are spelled differently. They should not be confused.

• The common male forename is Michael, with an '-e-' after the '-a-'. In Judaism and Christianity, Michael is an archangel, the captain of the heavemly army of angels, and is a common dedicatee (as Saint Michael, or Saint Michael and All Angels) of Christian churches.
• There is a much rarer female forename Michal (with no '-e-'). The first wife of David, the second King of Israel was Michal, the daughter of Saul, the first King of Israel. The name is not often used in English, although apparently growing in popularity in modern Israel.

Both are prounced as 'mike-'ll', IPA: /ˈmaɪk əl/.

Etymological note: Michael (and its female equivalent Michal) both mean 'who is like God?' in Hebrew.