This is the Babylonian name given to Hananiah, one of Daniel's three companions taken into Babylonian exile and royal service. The name replaced his Hebrew name when he entered Nebuchadnezzar's court, part of the cultural assimilation process for promising young captives. The etymology remains uncertain—proposals include derivation from Akkadian divine names or Persian royal terminology. Despite receiving a pagan name, Shadrach (along with Meshach and Abednego) remained faithful to the God of Israel, famously refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image and surviving the fiery furnace. The name became synonymous with faithful witness under pressure.