Zakai
Zakai was the 563rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 528 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,003 places. More babies were named Zakai in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Hebrew, American English
Say it zuh-KYE /zəˈkaɪ/
- Rank in 2025
- #563 boys, up 341 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 528boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025528 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,070babies recorded
What does the name Zakai mean?
Zakai has more than one possible source, and none is documented for American use. Hebrew Zakkai is a biblical family name: Ezra 2:9 lists "the sons of Zaccai" among the returning exiles. It is often linked with a Hebrew root meaning pure or innocent, but our sources do not give that meaning. Zakai may also be a modern blend of Zak (Zachary) and Kai. US records show it from 1998. We do not give it a single meaning.
How sure is this? Uncertain. The biblical Zaccai is attested; its meaning and its link with the modern American name are not documented in our sources.
Related names: Zaccai, Zakkai, Zachary, Kai.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Ezra 2:9, The JPS Tanakh: Gender-Sensitive Edition (via Sefaria), Jewish Publication Society / Sefaria
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Zakai popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 18 since 2012.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #563 | 528 |
| 2020 | #904 | 249 |
| 2010 | #2,168 | 62 |
| 2000 | #7,408 | 9 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Zakai, counting every spelling?
Zakai is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #474 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #563 for Zakai on its own. Together these spellings went to 647 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zakai | 528 | #563 | 2,104 |
| Zaccai | 85 | #1,865 | 298 |
| Zakkai | 27 | #4,048 | 81 |
| Zacai | 7 | #10,658 | 44 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Zakai?
528 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Zakai (0.15 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Zakai born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 16 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Zakai.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Zakai?
About 4,000 people born in the US named Zakai are alive today, with a median age of 5; half are between 3 and 10. That makes Zakai a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Zakai by state
How common Zakai was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Georgia (2.1×), Maryland (1.7×), Florida (1.7×), South Carolina (1.7×), Nevada (1.6×). In 17 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Zakai: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Zakai, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Zakai · Sibling names for Zakai
Questions about the name Zakai
What does Zakai mean?
The origin of Zakai is uncertain: the biblical Zaccai is attested; its meaning and its link with the modern American name are not documented in our sources.
How popular is the name Zakai?
Zakai was the 563rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 528 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,003 places. More babies were named Zakai in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Zakai a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Zakai in the US.
Where is Zakai most popular?
In 2021–2025, Zakai was most common in Georgia (0.51 per 1,000 boys), followed by Delaware and Maryland.