Hezakiah

Meaning & origin

Hezakiah is an extremely rare name in the United States, first recorded in 2001 and appearing on the Social Security list intermittently. Its rank in 2025 stood at 8,243, with a low frequency of about 1 in 189,786 births. The name has shown a gradual upward trajectory since 2014, with its peak year coinciding with 2024. Hezakiah is a modern respelling of the biblical Hezekiah, a king of Judah, and the variant spelling adds a distinctive touch while retaining the ancient name's strength. The name has not yet been recorded in any top states, suggesting its distribution is still scattered. As a rare, newly coined variant, it appeals to parents seeking a unique twist on a traditional biblical name.

Hezakiah is a modern spelling variant of Hezekiah, a biblical name from the Hebrew Ḥizqiyyahu, meaning 'Yahweh strengthens.' The name appears in the Old Testament as a king of Judah known for religious reforms. The -iah suffix is common in Hebrew theophoric names. The spelling with a 'z' instead of 's' (Hezekiah) is a recent innovation, likely influenced by phonetic respelling or regional preferences.