Zachary

Pronunciation: [ z-AK-er-ee ]

Boy Name #194 Most Popular Steady 3 Syllables

A prophet's promise — remembered by God across millennia

English American French Hebrew

Classic Strong Traditional Bold

Meaning & Origin

"God has remembered"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: English

"Yahweh remembers"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: Hebrew

The Story of Zachary

Zachary derives from the Hebrew Zechariah (זְכַרְיָה), meaning 'God has remembered' or 'Yahweh remembers.' Zechariah is both a prophet in the Hebrew Bible (his book is one of the Minor Prophets) and the father of John the Baptist in the New Testament. The name traveled through Greek as Zacharias, through Latin, and into English as Zachary — maintaining its theological resonance across faiths and centuries.

Zachary was in the US top 20 from 1993 to 1999, peaking at #12. Its popularity was driven by the broader trend of biblical names in the 1980s-90s and by celebrities like Zac Efron who kept the name culturally present in the 2000s-2010s.

Zachary Taylor was the 12th US President (1849-1850), giving the name presidential legacy. In Jewish tradition, Zechariah's prophetic visions are among the most complex and vivid in the Hebrew Bible, including prophecies of messianic redemption that shaped both Jewish and Christian thought.

Fun Facts

Zachary Taylor won the 1848 US presidency without ever having voted in a presidential election
The Book of Zechariah contains some of the most cryptic and complex prophetic visions in the entire Bible
Zachary is consistently one of the most popular Z-initial names in American baby name history

Zachary in Other Languages

Arabic زكريا

French Zacharie

German Zacharias

Hebrew זְכַרְיָה

Italian Zaccaria

Spanish Zacarías

Famous People Named Zachary

Zac Efron

Actor

1987

American actor known for High School Musical, The Greatest Showman, and Neighbors

Zachary Quinto

Actor

1977

American actor known for playing Spock in the Star Trek reboot films and Sylar in Heroes

Zachary Taylor

Politician

1784

12th President of the United States and hero of the Mexican-American War

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 3
Popularity Rank: #194
Total SSA Count: 1,835
Cultural Origins: English American French Hebrew
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: Moderate

Alternative Spellings

Zachariah #570 Zach #2431 Zachery #2524 Zacharias #3537

Common Nicknames

Zach Zack Zac

Pairs Well With

Zachary James Zachary Thomas Zachary Michael Zachary Alexander Zachary Ryan Zachary David

Sibling Names

Nathan Caleb Joshua Hannah Rachel Noah

Also a Girl Name

Zachary is also used as a girl name, ranked #64045.

View Zachary as a girl name →

Similar Names

Jerry Jeremiah Caesar Toby Brady Grady Colby Salvador

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Zachary

What does the name Zachary mean?

"God has remembered" (from Hebrew). "Yahweh remembers" (from Hebrew). Zachary derives from the Hebrew Zechariah (זְכַרְיָה), meaning 'God has remembered' or 'Yahweh remembers.' Zechariah is both a prophet in the Hebrew Bible (his book is one of the Minor Prophets) and the father of John the Baptist in the New Testament. The name traveled through Greek as Zacharias, through Latin, and into English as Zachary — maintaining its theological resonance across faiths and centuries.

What is the origin of the name Zachary?

Zachary has Hebrew, English, American, and French origins. In Hebrew, it means "God has remembered". In Hebrew, it means "Yahweh remembers".

Is Zachary a boy or girl name?

Zachary is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #194. As a girl name, it is ranked #64045. Zachary is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Zachary?

Zachary is pronounced z-AK-er-ee.

How popular is the name Zachary?

Zachary is currently ranked #194 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Zachary?

Common nicknames for Zachary include Zach, Zack, and Zac.

What are good middle names for Zachary?

Popular middle name pairings include Zachary James, Zachary Thomas, Zachary Michael, Zachary Alexander, Zachary Ryan, and Zachary David.

What are good sibling names for Zachary?

Names that pair well with Zachary as siblings include Nathan, Caleb, Joshua, Hannah, Rachel, and Noah.

How many syllables does Zachary have?

Zachary has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.

Is Zachary a common or rare name?

Zachary is a popular name, ranked #194 for boys. It is well-known without being overused.

About the Name Zachary

Zachary is a boy name with English, American, French, and Hebrew origins . The name means "God has remembered" in Hebrew .

Is Zachary a boy or girl name? Zachary is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #194 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #64,045. Zachary is more commonly used as a boy name.

Zachary is currently ranked #194 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Zachary has 3 syllables and is pronounced z-AK-er-ee, making it distinctive and memorable.

Common nicknames for Zachary include Zach, Zack, and Zac. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Zachary include Zachariah, Zach, Zachery, Zacharias . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.