Zedekiah, meaning "Just is Yah" in Hebrew, was an ancient king of Judah, reigning from approximately 598 to 587 BCE. He succeeded his father, King Jehoiakim, and ruled during a tumultuous period marked by the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. Zedekiah's tenure was characterized by political intrigue and religious struggle, culminating in the eventual destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. He is remembered for attempting to resist Babylonian control, ultimately leading to his capture and blinding at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar II. Despite his fateful end, Zedekiah remains an intriguing figure in Jewish history, embodying themes of resistance, faith, and consequence.
The name Zedekiah experienced a notable increase in popularity from the late 1990s to the mid-2010s, with a significant jump occurring around the year 2018.