Mick is a masculine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

nickname A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...

, usually a

hypocorism A hypocorism ( or ; from Ancient Greek ; sometimes also ''hypocoristic''), or pet name, is a name used to show affection for a person. It may be a diminutive form of a person's name, such as ''Izzy'' for Isabel or ''Bob (given name), Bob'' fo ...

Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * he He ..., a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name * Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...

. Because of its popularity in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, it is often used in the

English-speaking world The English-speaking world comprises the 88 countries and territories in which English language, English is an official, administrative, or cultural language. In the early 2000s, between one and two billion people spoke English, making it the ...

as an

ethnic slur The following is a list of ethnic slurs, ethnophaulisms, or ethnic epithets that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnic, national, or racial group or to refer to them in a derogatory, pej ...

for

Irish people The Irish ( or ''Na hÉireannaigh'') are an ethnic group and nation native to the island of Ireland, who share a common ancestry, history and Culture of Ireland, culture. There have been humans in Ireland for about 33,000 years, and it has be ...

. In Australia, the meaning also broadened to include all

Catholics The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

. A colloquial but possibly

false etymology A false etymology (fake etymology or pseudo-etymology) is a false theory about the origin or derivation of a specific word or phrase. When a false etymology becomes a popular belief in a cultural/linguistic community, it is a folk etymology (or po ...

also attributes the origin of the slur to the prevalence of

Irish surname A formal Irish name consists of a given name and a surname. In the Irish language, most surnames are patronymic surnames (distinct from patronymic, patronyms, which are seen in Icelandic names for example). The form of a surname varies according ...

s containing the patronymic prefix " Mc-" (or '' Mhic''); whether this

patronym A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic. Patronymics are used, ...

significantly contributed to the development of the slur is debated, but the prevalence of the first name or nickname "Mick" among Irish people is considered by etymologists to be its primary origin.

People

Mick Abrahams Michael Timothy Abrahams (born 7 April 1943) is an English guitarist, singer, and band leader, best known for being the original guitarist for Jethro Tull from 1967 to 1968 and the leader of Blodwyn Pig. Jethro Tull Abrahams was born in ...

(born 1943), English guitarist and band leader, original guitarist for Jethro Tull *

Mick Aston Michael Antony Aston (1 July 1946 – 24 June 2013) was an English archaeologist who specialised in Early Medieval landscape archaeology. Over the course of his career, he lectured at both the University of Bristol and University of Oxford and ...

(1946-2013), English archaeologist * Mick Batyske, aka Mick (DJ), American DJ * Mick Brown, half of the British vocal duo

Pat and Mick Pat and Mick were a British pop duo, consisting of popular radio personalities Pat Sharp and Mick Brown, both of whom are from London. They released cover versions each year from 1988 to 1993, achieving a top-10 hit with their 1989 single " I ...

* Mick Clarke (born 1989), Irish footballer * Mick Coady (born 1958), English footballer *

Mick Cronin (basketball) Michael Walter Cronin (born July 17, 1971)
Cincinnati Enquirer. 2 May 1999. is an American men's ...

(born 1971), American basketball coach *

Mick Fanning Michael Eugene Fanning (born 13 June 1981) is an Australian professional surfer who was crowned champion of the Association of Surfing Professionals/World Surf League (ASP/WSL)'s World Tour in 2007, 2009 and 2013. In 2015, he survived a shark ...

(born 1981), Australian professional surfer *

Mick Foley Michael Francis Foley (born June 7, 1965) is an American retired professional wrestler and author. He is signed to WWE, under a Legends contract while also serving as an ambassador. Foley worked for many wrestling promotions, including the W ...

(born 1965), American professional wrestler, actor and author *

Mick Fleetwood Michael John Kells Fleetwood (born 24 June 1947) is a British musician, songwriter and actor. He is the drummer, co-founder, and leader of the rock band Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood, whose surname was merged with that of the group's bassist John Mc ...

(born 1947), British drummer and founding member of Fleetwood Mac *

Mick Gadsby Michael David Gadsby (born 1 August 1947) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Notts County, York City, Grimsby Town, Bradford City and Hartlepool. Career Born in Oswestry, Gadsby ...

(born 1947), English footballer *

Mick Harvey Michael John Harvey (born 29 August 1958) is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. A multi-instrumentalist, he is best known for his long-term collaborations with Nick Cave, with whom he formed The ...

(born 1958), Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer *

Mick Herron Mick Herron (born 11 July 1963) is a British Mystery fiction, mystery and Thriller (genre), thriller novelist. He is the author of the ''Slough House (novel series), Slough House'' series, early novels of which have been adapted into the ''Slow ...

, British mystery and thriller novelist *

Mick Hucknall Michael James Hucknall (born 8 June 1960) is an English singer and songwriter. Hucknall achieved international fame in the 1980s as the lead singer and songwriter of the soul-influenced pop band Simply Red, with whom he enjoyed a 25-year caree ...

(born 1960), English singer and songwriter *

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English musician. He is known as the lead singer and one of the founder members of The Rolling Stones. Jagger has co-written most of the band's songs with lead guitarist Keith Richards; Jagge ...

(born 1943), lead singer and songwriter for the Rolling Stones *

Mick Jenkins (rugby league) Michael Jenkins (born 9 June 1972) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A Wales international forward, Jenkins played at club level for the Newcastle Knights, Workington Town, Gateshead Thunder an ...

(born 1972), Welsh rugby footballer *

Mick Jenkins (rapper) Jayson Andrew "Mick" Jenkins (born April 16, 1991) is an American rapper based in Chicago and signed to Cinematic Music Group. His mixtape, '' The Waters'', was released in 2014, followed by the ''Waves'' EP in 2015. Early life and education ...

(born 1991), American rapper *

Mick Jones (disambiguation) Mick Jones may refer to: Music * Mick Jones (Foreigner guitarist) (born 1944), English guitarist, songwriter and record producer in the rock band Foreigner and earlier Spooky Tooth ** ''Mick Jones'' (album), a 1989 album by Foreigner musician Mick ...

Mick Kenney Michael "Mick" Kenney (born 18 January 1980) is a British musician and record producer. He gained popularity as the lead guitarist of the extreme metal band Anaal Nathrakh. He now releases a variety of music, including drift phonk, under the nam ...

(born 1980), British musician * Mick Linden, bassist * Mick McGinley (born 1940/1), Irish Gaelic footballer and father of professional golfer Paul *

Mick Mannock Mick is a masculine given name or nickname, usually a hypocorism of Michael (given name), Michael. Because of its popularity in Ireland, it is often used in the English-speaking world as an List of ethnic slurs, ethnic slur for Irish people. In A ...

(1887–1918), British First World War fighter ace *

Mick Mars Robert Alan Deal (born May 4, 1951), known professionally as Mick Mars, is an American musician best known as the former lead guitarist and co-founder of the Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, being the oldest of the four origin ...

(born 1951 or 1955), guitarist for Mötley Crüe born Robert Alan Deal * Mick Mashbir, American guitarist *

Mick Mercer Mick Mercer (born Michael Mercer, 19 July 1957) is a journalist and author best known for his books, photos and reviews of the goth and punk scenes. Life and work Mercer is primarily a writer focused on the Gothic rock scene that emerged fro ...

(born 1958), British journalist *

Mick Molloy Michael Molloy (born 11 July 1966) is an Australian comedian, writer, producer, actor and television and radio presenter who has been active in radio, television, stand-up and film. He currently hosts '' The Front Bar'' on the Seven Network. ...

(born 1966), Australian comedian, writer, producer and actor *

(born 1944), Irish former rugby union player * Mick Moss (born 1975), English singer/songwriter *

Mick Mulvaney John Michael “Mick” Mulvaney (born July 21, 1967) is an American politician who served as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from February 2017 until March 2020, and as acting White House chief of staff from January 2019 un ...

(born 1967), American politician * Mick Peck (born 1981), New Zealand magician *

Mick Ralphs Michael Geoffrey Ralphs (born 31 March 1944) is an English retired guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, who was a founding member of rock bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company. Though not a constant member, he appeared on every studio album b ...

(born 1944), English guitarist and songwriter, founding member of rock bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company *

Mick Ronson Michael Ronson (26 May 1946 – 29 April 1993) was an English musician, songwriter, arranger, and producer. He achieved critical and commercial success working with David Bowie as the guitarist of the Spiders from Mars. He was a session musici ...

(1946-1993), English guitarist for David Bowie's The Spiders from Mars *

Mick Schumacher Mick Schumacher (; born 22 March 1999) is a German racing driver, who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Alpine. Schumacher competed in Formula One from to . Born and raised in Switzerland, Schumacher is the son of seven-ti ...

(born 1999), German racing driver and son of former F1 champion Michael Schumacher *

Mick Taylor Michael Kevin Taylor (born 17 January 1949) is an English guitarist, best known as a former member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1967–1969) and the Rolling Stones (1969–1974). As a member of the Stones, h ...

(born 1949), English guitarist for the Rolling Stones *

Mick Thomson Mickael Gordon "Mick" Thomson (born November 3, 1973) is an American musician. He is one of two guitarists for the nu metal band Slipknot, in which he is designated #7. Thomson, who originally met founding Slipknot members Anders Colsefni, Don ...

(born 1973), American guitarist for Slipknot * Mick Tongraya (born 1992), Thai actor and model

Fictional characters

* Mick Mundy alias “The Sniper”, of the 2007 video game

Team Fortress 2 ''Team Fortress 2'' (''TF2'') is a Multiplayer video game, multiplayer first-person shooter game developed and published by Valve Corporation in 2007. It is the sequel to the 1996 ''Team Fortress'' Mod (video gaming), mod for ''Quake (video g ...

* Mick Belker, on the TV series ''

Hill Street Blues ''Hill Street Blues'' is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicles the lives of the Metropolitan Police Department staff ...

'' * Mick Carter, on the British soap opera ''EastEnders'' * Mick Garvey, on the TV series ''

Benidorm Benidorm ( , , ) is a municipality in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Known as the “New York City, New York of the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean”, Benidorm has been a tourist destinatio ...

'' *

Mickey Goldmill Mickey Goldmill is a fictional character created by Sylvester Stallone and portrayed by Burgess Meredith in the ''Rocky'' film series. Meredith was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the first fil ...

, commonly addressed as Mick, in

Rocky ''Rocky'' is a 1976 American independent film, independent sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the Rocky (film series), ''Rocky'' franchise and also star ...

Rocky II ''Rocky II'' is a 1979 American sports drama film written, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the direct sequel to ''Rocky'' (1976) and the second installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise. It also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, ...

and

Rocky III ''Rocky III'' is a 1982 American sports drama film written and directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film is the sequel to ''Rocky II'' (1979) and the third installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise. It also stars Talia Shire, Burt You ...

* Mick Kanic, on the ''

Power Rangers Ninja Steel ''Power Rangers Ninja Steel'' is the twenty-fourth season of the television program ''Power Rangers''. The season was produced primarily using footage, costumes, and props from Japanese 39th Super Sentai series '' Shuriken Sentai Ninninger'' ...

'' * Mick Kelly, in the 1940 novel ''

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter ''The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter'' (1940) is the debut novel of American author Carson McCullers, who was 23 at the time of publication. It is a Southern Gothic novel about a deaf man named John Singer and the people he encounters in a 1930s m ...

'' and the 1968 film adaptation

References

{{given name Masculine given names Hypocorisms Pejorative terms for European people

People

Fictional characters

See also

References