Holding steady, #7,679 for boys today.
Popularity of Shadrach since 1916
Babies named Shadrach per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Shadrach's real moment was 1994.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 5 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 14 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 81 |
| 1980s | 95 |
| 1990s | 144 |
| 2000s | 197 |
| 2010s | 165 |
| 2020s | 74 |
Meaning & origin
Shadrach is a rare biblical name that has maintained a low but stable presence in the United States since the early 20th century. First recorded in 1916, the name reached its peak popularity in 1994, though even then it was uncommon. In the most recent data from 2025, Shadrach ranked 7679th, with a frequency of about 1 in 170,808 newborn boys. The name has never been regionally concentrated, with no top states recorded. Its trajectory is stable, indicating a consistent but niche level of usage over the decades. Despite its obscurity, Shadrach carries strong biblical resonance, appealing to families seeking a name with religious significance and a distinctive, strong sound. The name's etymology ties it to the ancient Akkadian language and the story of faith in the Book of Daniel, giving it a layer of historical and spiritual depth that outweighs its rarity.
Shadrach is the Babylonian name given to Hananiah, one of the three young men cast into the fiery furnace in the Book of Daniel. The name is of uncertain Akkadian origin, possibly meaning 'command of Aku' (Aku being the Mesopotamian moon god). It has been used as a given name primarily among English-speaking Christians and African American communities, especially after the Protestant Reformation. The name has never been common, but it has seen occasional usage due to its biblical associations.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shad, Rach
Sibling names for Shadrach
Names that share Shadrach's style, for a brother or sister.
