Zakai Boy

Popularity: #495 · 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 #1131 nationally, which occurred in 2025, 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.

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.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 528 528 0
2024 473 473 0
2023 422 415 7
2022 374 374 0
2021 320 314 6
2020 249 249 0
2019 244 244 0
2018 242 242 0
2017 185 185 0
2016 142 142 0
2015 104 104 0
2014 84 84 0
2013 95 95 0
2012 94 89 5
2011 64 64 0
2010 62 62 0
2009 61 61 0
2008 51 51 0
2007 61 61 0
2006 65 65 0
2005 43 43 0
2004 36 36 0
2003 21 21 0
2002 9 9 0
2001 17 17 0
2000 9 9 0
1999 9 9 0
1998 6 6 0

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 48
11%
TX 46
11%
FL 35
8%
GA 26
6%
NY 20
5%
PA 17
4%
IL 15
3%
TN 15
3%
MI 14
3%
IN 13
3%
NC 13
3%
VA 13
3%
AZ 13
3%
SC 12
3%
MS 12
3%
AL 12
3%
MD 11
3%
OH 11
3%
MO 11
3%
LA 11
3%
NV 10
2%
NJ 9
2%
MA 9
2%
MN 8
2%
WI 7
2%
KY 7
2%
WA 6
1%
OK 5
1%
CO 5
1%