Zachary
Boy name · #216 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
Zachary ranks #216 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,646 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #88, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,094 boys born in 2025 was named Zachary.
Babies named Zachary per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 125-year story
Zachary first appears in the Social Security records in 1900, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1993, when 25,538 boys were named Zachary — good for #15 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zachary against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zachary in class?
Zachary scores 60 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Zachary is most common
Geography matters for names, and Zachary is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Zacharys were CA (215), TX (153), NY (147), FL (99), PA (89). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Zachary
Statistically, parents drawn to Zachary tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Tyler, Brandon, Cody, Alex, and Spencer.
TylerBrandonCodyAlexSpencerJordanAntonioVictor
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Zachary | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,646 | #216 |
| 2024 | 1,844 | #194 |
| 2023 | 2,128 | #171 |
| 2022 | 2,263 | #165 |
| 2021 | 2,598 | #144 |
| 2020 | 2,729 | #135 |
| 2019 | 3,084 | #124 |
| 2018 | 3,577 | #107 |
| 2017 | 3,822 | #103 |
| 2016 | 4,576 | #89 |
| 2015 | 4,866 | #88 |
| 2014 | 5,188 | #82 |
| 2013 | 5,775 | #73 |
| 2012 | 6,263 | #67 |
| 2011 | 6,811 | #64 |
| 2010 | 7,184 | #61 |
| 2009 | 8,091 | #53 |
| 2008 | 9,235 | #47 |
| 2007 | 10,217 | #42 |
| 2006 | 11,013 | #33 |
| 2005 | 12,288 | #29 |
| 2004 | 13,712 | #26 |
| 2003 | 15,541 | #20 |
| 2002 | 16,622 | #19 |
| 2001 | 18,185 | #16 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Zachary a popular boy name?
Zachary ranked #216 among boys in 2025 with 1,646 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #88.
When was the name Zachary most popular?
Zachary peaked in 1993, when 25,538 American boys received the name (ranked #15 that year). Since 1993 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Zachary?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,094 newborn American boys was named Zachary. It scores 60/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.