Zakaria is a given name with multiple cultural origins. It is used as a Georgian, Malay, and Indonesian form of Zechariah and Zacharias, as well as an alternate transcription of Arabic زكريّا (see Zakariyya).EtymologyThe name ultimately derives from the Hebrew זְכַרְיָה (Zeḵarya), meaning “Yahweh remembers,” from the roots זָכַר (zaḵar, “to remember”) and יָהּ (yah, referring to God). This biblical name appears in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, it belongs to the prophet Zechariah, author of the Book of Zechariah. In the New Testament, Zechariah is the father of John the Baptist, who was struck mute for his disbelief. Christians regard him as a saint.Arabic and Islamic ContextIn Arabic, the name is spelled زكريّا and pronounced as Zakariyyā or Zakariyā. It represents the prophet Zakariyya, identified with the biblical Zechariah, who is mentioned in the Quran as the father of John (Yahya). The Arabic form has influenced variants across the Muslim world, including Zakariya and Zakariyya.Georgian, Indonesian, and Malay UsageIn Georgia, Zakaria is a common given name, reflecting Christian tradition. In Indonesia and Malaysia, it is used among both Muslims and Christians, with pronunciation adapted to local phonetics.Other Forms and DerivativesRelated names include Zacharias (Greek), Zachary (English), Zakhar (Ukrainian), and Zekharya (Biblical Hebrew). Hawaiian sources also list Zakaria as the name for the biblical figure Zachariah.Notable BearersZakaria (prophet in Islam, Zechariah)Saint Zakaria (father of John the Baptist)Zakaria bin Rasul Kenchugul (19th-century Kurdish leader)Key FactsMeaning: “Yahweh remembers”Origin: Hebrew in prophetic root, developed into Arabic, Greek, Slavic, Georgian, and Romance formsType: Old and new testament, and Indo-Aryan origins across all these forms usually maintain variant for ethnicity given above.