Micah means who is like God — the same meaning as Michael, but in a softer, more poetic form. The prophet Micah delivered one of the Bible's most quoted verses: What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. It's Michael's contemplative brother: same question, quieter voice, deeper answer.
Hebrew מִיכָה (Mikhah, who is like God?)→English Micah
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Hebrew roots
Micah comes from the Hebrew Mikhah, meaning who is like God — the same meaning as Michael but in a different Hebrew form. The prophet Micah delivered what many consider the Bible's most perfectly stated ethical summary: He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8). The name has surged into the US top 100.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Biblical — the Book of Micah, one of the twelve Minor Prophets.
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Today
Micah remains a beloved choice, ranking #102 in the US. 129,443 babies have been named Micah since 1946.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Micah 6:8, SSA data
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How popular is Micah?
2022peak year
The name Micah reached its peak in 2022, with 3,964 registrations (ranked #89). The name has actually been around since 1946 — over a century — though it took until recently to find its widest audience. Since the peak, the name has eased to around #102 today, averaging about 3,978 new babies per year. Micah's usage has held roughly steady recently. Across all years on record, approximately 129,443 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
3,964 Babies named in peak year (ranked #89)
3,978Avg. per year (last decade)
39,780Total registrations last 10 years
129,443All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #102)Very popular
Micah's Life Path 9 is the humanitarian's number — justice, mercy, humility. People named Micah tend to be thoughtful, just, and drawn to walking humbly with whatever they believe in.
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