Zacarías is the Spanish form of Zechariah and Zacharias. It is derived from the Hebrew name Zeḵarya (זְכַרְיָה), meaning "Yahweh remembers"—from the Hebrew roots zaḵar (זָכַר) meaning "to remember" and yah (יָהּ) referring to the Hebrew God.
Biblical and Historical Context
In the Old Testament, Zechariah is the name of several figures, most notably the prophet who authored the Book of Zechariah. The name also appears in the New Testament as the father of John the Baptist. According to the Gospel of Luke, Zechariah was a priest who was struck mute for doubting the angel Gabriel's prophecy of John's birth, and his speech was restored after the child's naming. He is venerated as a saint in Christian traditions.
Spanish Usage
In Spanish, Zacarías is used both as a biblical name and a given name. It is the standard translation for the Book of Zechariah in Spanish Bibles. The name has been adopted across the Spanish-speaking world, particularly in Spain and Latin America. Pronounced /θakaˈɾias/ in Spain and /sakaˈɾias/ in Latin America, it is the equivalent of English Zachary.
Related forms in other languages include Zakaria (Malay), Zakariya (Arabic), Zakariyya (Quranic), Zakhar (Ukrainian), and Zacharias (Greek). The name shares its root meaning with the theophoric element Yah, as seen in the name Yahweh, emphasizing divine remembrance.
- Meaning: Yahweh remembers
- Origin: Hebrew, via Spanish
- Type: Biblical, given name
- Usage: Spanish-speaking world
- Related: Zechariah, Zacharias, Zachary
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Sources: Wiktionary — Zacarías