Shadrach

Meaning of Shadrach

Shadrach, pronounced SHAD-rak (/ʃædˈræk/), is a masculine name of ancient Near Eastern provenance, transmitted into Judeo-Christian tradition via the Septuagint’s Latin rendering of the Hebrew שַׁדְרַךְ (Šaḏrāḵ). Etymologically tied to the Babylonian Šudur-Aku—literally “under the command of the moon god Aku”—it gained narrative prominence in the Book of Daniel as one of Nebuchadnezzar’s captives who exemplifies steadfast loyalty and unyielding courage in the face of fiery trial. An analytical review of U.S. birth records since the early twentieth century reveals its rare but persistent usage, with annual registrations typically in the single or low double digits and rankings fluctuating outside the top 750; in 2024, for instance, twelve boys were named Shadrach, placing it at number 912. As a nomen antiquum, Shadrach resonates like a steadfast pillar in the metaphorical furnace of adversity, bestowing upon its bearer an aura of historical gravitas and enduring virtue.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as SHAD-rak (/ʃædˈræk/)

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• Abednego
• Meshach