Zedekiah is a unique and uncommon male given name of Hebrew origin. Its meaning and pronunciation can vary depending on the source.
The name Zedekiah is derived from two Hebrew elements: "zedek" which means "justice" or "righteousness," and "yah" which is a shortened form of "Yahweh," one of the names of God in the Hebrew Bible. Therefore, Zedekiah can be interpreted to mean "Yahweh is just" or "Yahweh has justified."
In the Bible, Zedekiah appears as the name of several individuals, most notably King Zedekiah (also known as Mattaniah) who ruled over Judah during the time of the Babylonian captivity. He was the last king of Judah before Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Jerusalem and took Zedekiah captive in 587 BCE.
Throughout history, the name Zedekiah has been associated with royalty and leadership due to its biblical context. However, it is important to note that while Zedekiah is a historically significant name, its use as a given name remains relatively rare today.
In terms of pronunciation, Zedekiah can be sounded out as /ˌzɛdɪˈkaɪə/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), with stress on the second syllable. However, variations may exist depending on language and cultural influences.
As a given name, Zedekiah offers parents an opportunity to choose a unique and meaningful moniker for their child, with deep historical roots and a profound meaning rooted in ancient Hebrew culture.
The name Zedekiah has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. According to data from the Social Security Administration, there were only five babies named Zedekiah each year between 1982 and 1990.
However, starting in 1992, the number of births with this name began to rise steadily. There were six babies named Zedekiah in that year, followed by eight in 1993, ten in both 1994 and 1996, and twelve in 1998.
The turn of the millennium brought even more popularity for the name Zedekiah. In 2000, there were ten births with this name, and by 2005, that number had jumped to eighteen. The years 2007 and 2008 saw a significant spike in popularity, with twenty-three and seventeen births respectively.
The trend continued into the 2010s, with thirty-three babies named Zedekiah born in 2010 alone. Since then, the name has remained popular, with consistent birth numbers each year.
In fact, according to recent data from the Social Security Administration, there were thirty-one births with the name Zedekiah in 2023, demonstrating that this name continues to be a favorite among parents today.
Overall, since 1982, there have been a total of 675 babies named Zedekiah born in the United States. This data shows not only an increasing trend but also a consistent level of popularity for the name Zedekiah over time.