NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Zach

Biblical name meaning "the Lord remembers".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Zach is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zach popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #509, with 77 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 342 births.

This profile covers 4,754 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 23% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6,179 living people in the UK are called Zach. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Zach ranked #509 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 77 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 342 boys were registered as Zach.
  • Zach ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #108 in 2024.
  • About 6,179 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zach as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#509

2024

Births in 2024

77

Latest year

Peak year

2011

342 births

Estimated living

6,179

2026

Meaning

What does Zach mean?

The name Zach, also spelled Zach or Zac, is a diminutive form of the Hebrew name Zacharias, which is derived from the Hebrew name Zechariah. Zechariah is a combination of the Hebrew words "zachar," meaning "to remember," and "Yah," which is a shortened form of the name of the Hebrew God, Yahweh or Jehovah. The name Zechariah, therefore, means "the Lord remembers" or "the Lord has remembered."

The name Zechariah has its roots in the Old Testament of the Bible, where it was borne by several significant figures, including a prophet, a priest, and the father of John the Baptist. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zechariah can be found in the Book of Ezra, where it refers to a prophet who encouraged the Israelites to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem after their return from exile in Babylon.

While the name Zach itself does not appear in ancient texts, its roots can be traced back to the Hebrew Bible and the Jewish tradition. The shortened form Zach likely emerged as a nickname or diminutive form of Zechariah, making it more convenient and easier to use in everyday speech.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Zach or a variation of it. One of the earliest recorded examples is Zacchaeus, a tax collector mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus as he passed through Jericho.

Another famous bearer of the name was Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States, who served from 1849 to 1850. He was born in 1784 and is remembered for leading American forces to victory in the Mexican-American War.

Zach Galifianakis, born in 1969, is a contemporary American actor and comedian known for his roles in films like "The Hangover" trilogy and "Due Date." He is renowned for his unique brand of comedy and his ability to portray quirky and offbeat characters.

Zach LaVine, born in 1995, is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. He is known for his impressive athleticism and high-flying dunks, and has been selected to the NBA All-Star team twice.

Zach Braff, born in 1975, is an American actor, director, and writer best known for his role as J.D. on the popular television series "Scrubs." He has also directed and starred in several films, including "Garden State" and "Wish I Was Here."

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Zach throughout history, highlighting its enduring popularity and the rich cultural heritage it carries from its Hebrew origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zach over time

The chart below shows babies named Zach registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Zach, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 77 births in 2024, compared with 342 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zach
086171257342199620102024

Decades

Zach by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zach was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #402 539 5
2010s #247 2,279 10
2000s #261 1,584 10
1990s #304 352 4

Geography

Where Zach is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Zach. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Zach ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #108 in 2024.

Scotland
31
Northern Ireland
21

Across the UK

Zach in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#148 in 2024

32 years of NRS records, 728 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#108 in 2024

28 years of NISRA records, 740 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Zach

  • Zach Fishwick

    rugby league player

    English rugby league footballer

    2005-

  • Zach Robinson

    association football player

    English association football player (born 2002)

    2002-

  • Zach Jeacock

    association football player

    English footballer

    2001-

  • Zach Hemming

    association football player

    English footballer

    2000-

  • Zach Russ

    badminton player

    badminton player

    2000-

  • Zach Wajtknecht

    speedway rider

    British speedway rider

    1998-

  • Zach Mercer

    rugby union player

    English rugby union footballer (1997-)

    1997-

  • Zach Sullivan

    ice hockey player

    ice hockey player (1994-)

    1994-

Related

Names similar to Zach

FAQ

Zach: questions and answers

How popular is the name Zach in the UK right now?

In 2024, Zach was ranked #509 for boys in England and Wales, with 77 births registered.

When was Zach most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 342 babies registered as Zach in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zach?

Biblical name meaning "the Lord remembers".

How many people are called Zach in the UK?

A total of 4,754 babies have been registered as Zach across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 728 more in Scotland and 740 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Zach most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Zach ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #108 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.