Zachary is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the name Zechariah, which means "God remembers." It was brought into prominence by Zechariah, one of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament who predicted the coming of the Messiah. In English-speaking countries, Zachary has been popular since the late 20th century and remains a favorite choice for parents today. It reached its peak popularity in the United States during the late 1990s and early 2000s, where it consistently ranked among the top 500 names for boys. The name Zachary has also been used as a given name for girls occasionally, perhaps due to its gender-neutral sound or its association with literary characters like Zaccheus from the Gospel of Luke, who was a short man whose story is told in the New Testament. Some notable individuals named Zachary include American actors Zach Braff and Zachary Quinto, British musician Zach Filkins from the band OneRepublic, and Australian swimmer Zac Stubblety-Cook, who won gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics. The name Zachary has also been used in popular culture, such as in the character Zach Morris from the 1990s sitcom "Saved by the Bell." Overall, Zachary is a strong and distinctive name with a rich history that continues to appeal to parents seeking a unique yet classic name for their sons.
"The name Zachary reached its peak popularity in the late 1980s with a high of 105 births in 1988. However, since then it has seen a significant decline, with only 5 births recorded in 2022."