Micah

Several people worshipped idols in the Old Testament of the Bible. One of them, a character in the Book of Judges, shared his name with one of the twelve future prophets. He denounced oppression and wrote the self-named Book of Micah. 

Micah is a contraction of the also-Biblical Micaiah, which has the Hebrew meaning of "who is like God." Outside the Bible, the name was first used by Puritans after the Protestant Reformation. 

However, Micah did not become a common name until the twentieth century. Micah first entered the American top 1000 in 1959. It rose in use through the late 1970s. By then, the name has reached the top 250. Micah has stayed there ever since, making it a modern classic. The name moved up to the 100s from the mid-1990s into the 2000s. After hovering in the 100s for over a decade, Micah finally made the top 100 in 2022.

Micah has also been used in England and New Zealand, where it has been a top 100 name since 2019. The name has seen some Dutch usage as well. 

With classic Michael falling from its former top position, parents are clearly seeking Micah as a fresher alternative. The name's feminine "ah" ending is another appealing factor. Micah fits in with Silas and Miles as well. 

STYLES:

Biblical, Neoclassic

SISTERS:

Tessa, Naomi, Hope, Chloe, Eden, Shiloh, Macy, Autumn

BROTHERS:

Asher, Noah, Caleb, Tobias, Levi, Ezra, Reuben, Jonas

ALTERNATIVES:

Asa, Cyrus, Jonah, Judah, Malachi, Micaiah, Moses, Titus

FURTHER RESOURCES:

"Micah." Names, Behind the Name, 29 May 2020, https://www.behindthename.com/name/micah.

Rosenkrantz, Linda. "Micah." Names, Nameberry, 15 Jul. 2023, https://nameberry.com/babyname/micah/boy. 

What do you think about Micah?