Zakai Boy

Popularity: #514 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: zah-KAI //zəˈkaɪ//

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Hebrew: pure; innocent

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Zakai has its roots in Hebrew, deriving from the word "zakh" which means "pure" or "innocent." The name appears in various forms throughout history, with its earliest occurrences in biblical texts. In Hebrew, Zakai is often associated with the concept of righteousness and moral integrity, reflecting the cultural values of purity and virtue prevalent in ancient Jewish society.

The transition of the name into English can be traced through the transliteration of Hebrew names into Greek and Latin, eventually leading to its adoption in English-speaking contexts, particularly through religious texts and translations such as the Septuagint and the Vulgate. Historically, the name Zakai is linked to significant biblical figures, notably in the context of the New Testament, where it is associated with the character Zacchaeus, a tax collector who is described as seeking redemption and transformation.

This biblical narrative, which dates back to the 1st century CE, has contributed to the name's enduring significance within Christian traditions. The name's association with themes of repentance and moral awakening has allowed it to resonate across various cultures and religious practices.

Culturally, Zakai embodies ideals of integrity and virtue, making it a name of considerable symbolic weight. Its historical significance is further enhanced by its connection to Jewish heritage, where names often carry deep meanings and reflect familial or spiritual aspirations.

The name has also seen variations and diminutive forms, such as Zaki, which maintain the core essence of the original while adapting to different linguistic contexts. Overall, Zakai represents a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural values that have allowed it to persist through centuries.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zakai, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Zakai was first seen in the United States in 1998.

Zakai has ranked as high as #902 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Zakai has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Zakai is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Zakai was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Zakai (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 48
11%
TX 46
11%
FL 35
8%
GA 26
6%
NY 20
5%
PA 17
4%
IL 15
4%
TN 15
4%
MI 14
3%
IN 13
3%
NC 13
3%
VA 13
3%
AZ 13
3%
SC 12
3%
MS 12
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Zakai.

YearBirths
2024472
2023414
2022373
2021313
2020249
2019244
2018242
2017185
2016142
2015104
201484
201395
201289
201164
201062
200961
200851
200761
200665
200543
200436
200321
20029
200117
20009
19999
19986