Michael Blakely

(male) English form of a common biblical name (meaning ‘who is like God?’ in Hebrew) borne by one of the archangels, the protector of the ancient Hebrews, who is also regarded as a saint of the Catholic Church. In the Middle Ages, Michael was regarded as captain of the heavenly host (see Revelation 12:7–9), symbol of the Church Militant, and patron of soldiers. He was often depicted bearing a flaming sword. The name is also borne by a Persian prince and ally of Belshazzar mentioned in the Book of Daniel. Since the early 1900s it has been one of the most enduringly popular boys' names in the English-speaking world. See also Michal.

English, Scottish, and northern Irish: habitational name from any of various places in northern England and the Scottish Borders called Blakeley, named with Old English blæc ‘black’, ‘dark’ (see Black) + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. The Scottish surname may also have absorbed some cases of Blakelaw, from a place in the Borders named with Old English blæc ‘black’ + hlāw ‘hill’.