Michel is a name used today in France, Canada, Belgium and other French-speaking countries.
The name is particularly common in French (from where the standard English pronunciation is derived), German (already in Middle High German), Dutch, and Afrikaans.
In these instances Michel is equivalent to the English personal name Michael, although in Dutch the name Michaël is also common.
When of Czech, Slovak or Polish origin it is a variant of the personal name Michal.
When of Greek origin, the surname Michel is a shortened form of various patronymic derivatives of Michael.