Zedekiah Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: zeh-deh-KY-uh //zɛdɪˈkaɪə//
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is righteous
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Zedekiah has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the Hebrew name "צִדְקִיָּהוּ" (Tzidkiyahu), which translates to "Yahweh is righteous". The name is composed of two elements: "צֶדֶק" (tzedek), meaning "righteousness" or "justice", and "יָהוּ" (Yahu), a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh.
This name transitioned into Greek as "Ζεδεκίας" (Zedekias) and subsequently into Latin as "Zedekias" before being adopted into Old French and finally into Middle English, where it appears in various forms including Zedekiah. Historically, Zedekiah is significant as the name of a biblical figure, specifically the last king of Judah, who reigned from approximately 597 to 586 BCE.
His reign is noted in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the books of 2 Kings and Jeremiah, where he is portrayed as a tragic figure who witnessed the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. Zedekiah's actions and eventual downfall are pivotal in the narrative of the Babylonian Exile, a critical event in Jewish history that shaped the identity and religious practices of the Jewish people.
Culturally, the name Zedekiah resonates with themes of justice and divine righteousness, reflecting the moral and ethical values prominent in Jewish tradition. The name has been used in various religious texts and has been associated with the hope for redemption and restoration in Jewish eschatology.
The diminutive form "Zed" may also be encountered, although it is less historically significant. Overall, Zedekiah embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural significance that underscores its enduring legacy.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zedekiah, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Zedekiah. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Zedekiah was first seen in the United States in 1982.
Zedekiah has ranked as high as #1329 nationally, which occurred in 2019, and has been most popular in California, Texas, and Tennessee.
In the past 5 years the name Zedekiah has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Zedekiah 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 Zedekiah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Zedekiah (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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 5 | |
| CA | 5 |
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 Zedekiah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2021 | 33 |
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2019 | 43 |
| 2018 | 39 |
| 2017 | 30 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2015 | 30 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2010 | 33 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 1999 | 8 |
| 1998 | 12 |
| 1997 | 8 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1994 | 10 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1982 | 5 |