Sewing machine needle having the following features: - a needle shank which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the needle; - an eyelet which engages through the needle substantially in the height direction of the latter, wherein the height direction of the needle runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the latter; - a chamfer which in the longitudinal direction of the needle is disposed ahead of the eyelet, wherein the contour of the chamfer in the height direction of the needle is recessed in relation to the contour of the shank; - wherein the cross-sectional area of the needle in the region of the extent of the chamfer in the longitudinal direction of the needle is at most between 60% and 80% of the smallest cross-sectional area to be measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the needle in the region of the longitudinal extent of the remaining needle shank and; - wherein the needle in the region of the chamfer in the height direction has a maximum extent (h) which is between 55% and 75% of the maximum extent (b) of the needle in the region of the chamfer in the width direction; and - wherein the contour of the chamfer at least in a part-region of the extent of the chamfer in the longitudinal direction of the needle in a sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the needle is designed so as to be substantially circular-arcuate; - wherein said circular-arcuate region sweeps a first angular portion of the needle circumference, characterized in that - the radius (r) of the substantially circular-arcuate contour in said first angular portion of the needle circumference in this part-region of the longitudinal extent of the chamfer in the longitudinal direction of the needle is between 45% and 60% of the maximum extent (b) of the needle in the width direction of the latter; - wherein the width direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the height direction of the needle. - a needle shank which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the needle; - an eyelet which engages through the needle substantially in the height direction of the latter, wherein the height direction of the needle runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the latter; - a chamfer which in the longitudinal direction of the needle is disposed ahead of the eyelet, wherein the contour of the chamfer in the height direction of the needle is recessed in relation to the contour of the shank; - wherein the cross-sectional area of the needle in the region of the extent of the chamfer in the longitudinal direction of the needle is at most between 60% and 80% of the smallest cross-sectional area to be measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the needle in the region of the longitudinal extent of the remaining needle shank and; - wherein the needle in the region of the chamfer in the height direction has a maximum extent (h) which is between 55% and 75% of the maximum extent (b) of the needle in the region of the chamfer in the width direction; and - wherein the contour of the chamfer at least in a part-region of the extent of the chamfer in the longitudinal direction of the needle in a sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the needle is designed so as to be substantially circular-arcuate; - wherein said circular-arcuate region sweeps a first angular portion of the needle circumference, - the radius (r) of the substantially circular-arcuate contour in said first angular portion of the needle circumference in this part-region of the longitudinal extent of the chamfer in the longitudinal direction of the needle is between 45% and 60% of the maximum extent (b) of the needle in the width direction of the latter; - wherein the width direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the height direction of the needle.