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The short answer
Micah is a name used for both boys and girls in current US data, a contracted form of Micaiah. Behind the Name identifies Micah as one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, author of the Book of Micah, and also the name of a separate figure in the Book of Judges. It was occasionally used by the Puritans after the Reformation but did not become common until the end of the 20th century. It is pronounced MY-kə. In the United States it ranked #90 for boys and #909 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name's entry for Micah gives no independent gloss, describing it as a "contracted form of Micaiah". The entry lists Micah's roots as 'mi + ke + Yahweh', reflecting the Hebrew phrase behind Micaiah, traditionally rendered as a rhetorical question meaning something like "Who is like God/Yahweh?", though Behind the Name does not itself spell out an English gloss for Micah beyond naming the root elements.
Editorial confidence: likely
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | mi + ke + Yahweh | not verified — root elements named but not glossed by Behind the Name |
Popularity
Micah ranked #90 for boys and #909 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (boys) | 2025 | #90 | ssa-2025 |
| United States (girls) | 2025 | #909 | ssa-2025 |
United States, 2025: #90 (Social Security Administration)
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Micaiah, Micajah, Michaiah
Related names: Micaiah, Michael
What the name feels like
Micah reads as a soft, biblical name that has crossed over from a predominantly masculine Old Testament use into occasional use for girls, fitting alongside other short prophetic names.
Style tags: biblical, two syllables, unisex-leaning, Old Testament
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Micah's biblical prophet origin or its short, soft sound.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Micah mean?
Micah is a contracted form of Micaiah. Behind the Name names its Hebrew root elements as 'mi + ke + Yahweh' but does not give a further English gloss, so the precise meaning is not verified in this pass.
Is Micah a boy's name or a girl's name?
Both. In 2025 US data Micah ranked #90 for boys and #909 for girls, according to Social Security Administration data.
Who was Micah in the Bible?
Behind the Name identifies Micah as one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament and author of the Book of Micah; a separate Micah also appears in the Book of Judges.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Micah — supports pronunciation, variants, history.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
