Zakary is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the name Zechariah. In the Bible, Zechariah was a prophet who predicted the coming of the Messiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem after its destruction.
The name Zakary means "Yahweh remembers" or "God has remembered." It is believed to have been given to Zechariah by an angel, who appeared to him in a vision and told him that his wife Elizabeth would conceive a son despite her advanced age. The child was named John the Baptist, who later became the forerunner of Jesus Christ.
The name Zakary has been used throughout history, with some notable figures including Zakary Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Thailand, and Zakary McCann, Canadian ice hockey player. However, it is important to note that the popularity of the name has varied over time and across different cultures.
In terms of its usage today, Zakary is considered a somewhat unique name, as it is not one of the most popular choices for newborn boys. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Zakary ranked #941 in popularity in 2020, with only 176 babies given this name that year.
Despite its relative rarity, Zakary remains a meaningful and historically significant name with a rich cultural heritage. Its biblical origins give it a sense of timelessness and importance, while its unique spelling and pronunciation make it stand out from other names derived from Zechariah, such as Zachary or Zacchaeus. Overall, the name Zakary is an excellent choice for parents looking for a distinctive and meaningful name for their son.
The name Zakary has seen a varied trend of popularity over the years in the United States. The earliest record available is from 1970, with only 6 babies being named Zakary that year. This number increased slightly to 9 births in 1971 and remained steady at 9 in 1972 before dropping back down to 7 in 1973.
However, starting from 1975, there was a significant increase in the number of babies named Zakary each year. This trend continued until it peaked in 1992 with 209 births and again in 1993 with 213 births. Between 1994 and 2002, the popularity of the name Zakary stayed relatively high, ranging between 187 to 266 births per year.
After the year 2002, there was a gradual decline in the number of babies named Zakary. The total number of births decreased from 239 in 2003 to 51 in 2016. This downward trend continued until 2018 with only 38 births recorded that year.
In recent years, there has been a slight increase in the popularity of the name Zakary once again. In 2021, there were 37 babies named Zakary, and this number increased slightly to 35 births in both 2019 and 2020. The most recent data available shows that there were 25 births in 2022 and 29 births in 2023.
In conclusion, while the name Zakary has seen fluctuations in popularity over the years, it has been a consistent choice for parents in the United States since the 1970s. Despite a decline in recent years, there is still a steady number of babies being named Zakary each year.