2 Kings 24:17

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead. Adhering to his former policy of maintaining a show of monarchy, Nebuchadnezzar appointed the third and youngest son of Josiah (1 Chronicles 3:15), full brother of Jehoahaz, and uncle of the captive Jehoiachin. But according to the custom of conquerors, who changed the names of the great men they took captive in war, in token of their supremacy, he gave him the new name of Zedekiah - i:e., 'The righteousness of God.' This being a purely Hebrew name, it seems that he allowed the puppet king to choose his own name, which was confirmed. His heart toward God was the same as that of Jehoiakim impenitent and heedless of Gods word.