Zakariya

Zakariya is a male given name used in Arabic-speaking and Muslim communities. It is the Arabic form of Zechariah (Zacharias) and is common across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and other regions influenced by Arabic or Islamic culture. The name is often interpreted as meaning “God has remembered” or “God remembers,” reflecting its Hebrew origins.

In Islamic tradition, Zakariya refers to the Prophet Zechariah, a pious priest and guardian of the temple who prayed for an heir. According to the Qur’an, he was blessed with Yahya (John the Baptist) in old age after his supplication. The story of Zakariya appears in Surah Maryam and Surah Aal-e-Imran. Zechariah is also a figure in Jewish and Christian scriptures, identified as the father of John the Baptist and a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple.

Notable historical figures bearing the name include Abu Bakr Zakariya al-Razi (c. 865–925 CE), better known as Rhazes, a Persian polymath who made significant contributions to medicine, chemistry, and philosophy and is regarded as an important figure in medieval science.

As a given name, Zakariya has multiple spellings, including Zakaria, Zakariyya, and Zakariya, and remains widely used in Arabic-speaking countries and among Muslim communities worldwide. It may also appear as a surname in some contexts.