Zakhai
A masculine name of Assyrian origin meaning "innocent" or "pure".
Name Census estimates that about 156 living Americans carry the first name Zakhai. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zakhai today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zakhai births was 2023 (28 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zakhai. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
156
~ 1 in 2,197,143 Americans
Peak year
2023
28 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,433
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Zakhai: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zakhai from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 84 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zakhai by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Zakhai during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zakhai
The name Zakhai is believed to have its origins in the Hebrew language, derived from the Hebrew name Zaccai, which means "pure" or "innocent." This name has a rich historical significance, dating back to ancient times.
The earliest recorded use of the name Zakhai can be found in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament. One of the most notable mentions is in the Gospel of Luke, where Zakhai is described as a tax collector who climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus as he passed through Jericho.
In addition to its biblical references, the name Zakhai has been associated with several prominent figures throughout history. One such figure was Zakhai ben Achunai, a Jewish scholar and tanna (rabbi) who lived in the 2nd century CE. He is known for his contributions to the development of Jewish oral law and the Mishnah.
Another notable individual bearing the name Zakhai was Zakhai Kalmanowitz, a Polish-born American rabbi and author who lived from 1889 to 1959. He served as the religious leader of the Edah HaChareidis community in Jerusalem and wrote extensively on Jewish law and philosophy.
In the realm of literature, Zakhai Khanukoff, a Russian poet and writer of Jewish descent, made a significant impact with his works in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1847 and died in 1919, he is celebrated for his contributions to Jewish literature and his efforts in promoting Hebrew language and culture.
The name Zakhai has also been carried by individuals in various other fields, such as Zakhai ben Shealtiel, a Jewish leader and member of the Davidic line who lived in the 6th century BCE, and Zakhai Usov, a Russian painter and sculptor active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
While the name Zakhai may have its roots in ancient Hebrew, it has transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries, appearing in various forms across different regions and time periods. Its connection to historical figures and religious texts has contributed to its enduring legacy and significance.
People
Zakhai + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zakhai as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zakhai: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zakhai?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 156 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zakhai going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,197,143 US residents.
Is Zakhai a common name?
We classify Zakhai as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 157 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zakhai most popular?
The single biggest year for Zakhai was 2023, when 28 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zakhai is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zakhai a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zakhai in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.