Obadiah Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: oh-buh-DIE-uh /oʊbəˈdaɪə/
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Servant of God
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Obadiah originates from the Hebrew name "עובדיה" (Ovadiah), which translates to "servant of Yahweh" or "worshipper of Yahweh." This name is derived from the root word "עבד" (avad), meaning "to serve," combined with "יה" (Yah), a shortened form of the Tetragrammaton, the biblical name for God. The name entered the English language through the Greek transliteration in the Septuagint, the earliest Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures, and subsequently through Latin translations, particularly the Vulgate, before becoming established in Middle English forms during the medieval period.
Historically, Obadiah is most notably associated with a minor prophet in the Hebrew Bible, whose writings are contained in the Book of Obadiah, dated to the 6th century BCE. This book is recognized for its themes of judgment against Edom and the restoration of Israel, reflecting significant historical events surrounding the Babylonian exile.
The name also appears in various biblical genealogies, including the lineage of King David, which underscores its historical significance in Jewish tradition. Culturally, the name Obadiah has resonated within Jewish communities as a symbol of faithfulness and service to God.
It has been borne by various figures throughout Jewish history, including scholars and leaders, reinforcing its enduring legacy. The name's association with the prophetic tradition has also contributed to its symbolic weight, representing a commitment to divine service and moral integrity.
While diminutive forms such as "Obie" may arise in contemporary contexts, the name Obadiah itself carries a rich historical and cultural heritage that has persisted through centuries.
Famous people named Obadiah
In this section, you will find notable people named Obadiah. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Obadiah who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Obadiah who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Obadiah Stane is a character best known as Iron Monger in Iron Man and the Marvel Comics universe.
Obadiah is a biblical prophet best known for the Book of Obadiah in the Hebrew Bible.
Fictional characters named Obadiah
The following list of fictional characters named Obadiah is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Obadiah Stane is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. He is a businessman and industrialist who becomes one of Iron Man's primary adversaries.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Obadiah, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Obadiah. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Obadiah was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Obadiah has ranked as high as #2970 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Washington, and North Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Obadiah has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Obadiah is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Obadiah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Obadiah.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 104 | 104 |
| 2024 | 131 | 131 |
| 2023 | 113 | 113 |
| 2022 | 124 | 124 |
| 2021 | 99 | 99 |
| 2020 | 105 | 105 |
| 2019 | 96 | 96 |
| 2018 | 97 | 97 |
| 2017 | 97 | 97 |
| 2016 | 107 | 107 |
| 2015 | 93 | 93 |
| 2014 | 72 | 72 |
| 2013 | 69 | 69 |
| 2012 | 69 | 69 |
| 2011 | 54 | 54 |
| 2010 | 56 | 56 |
| 2009 | 53 | 53 |
| 2008 | 33 | 33 |
| 2007 | 37 | 37 |
| 2006 | 41 | 41 |
| 2005 | 36 | 36 |
| 2004 | 26 | 26 |
| 2003 | 30 | 30 |
| 2002 | 29 | 29 |
| 2001 | 26 | 26 |
| 2000 | 35 | 35 |
| 1999 | 20 | 20 |
| 1998 | 25 | 25 |
| 1997 | 14 | 14 |
| 1996 | 23 | 23 |
| 1995 | 21 | 21 |
| 1994 | 17 | 17 |
| 1993 | 15 | 15 |
| 1992 | 19 | 19 |
| 1991 | 18 | 18 |
| 1990 | 14 | 14 |
| 1989 | 24 | 24 |
| 1988 | 14 | 14 |
| 1987 | 15 | 15 |
| 1986 | 15 | 15 |
| 1985 | 10 | 10 |
| 1984 | 11 | 11 |
| 1983 | 16 | 16 |
| 1982 | 19 | 19 |
| 1981 | 21 | 21 |
| 1980 | 21 | 21 |
| 1979 | 24 | 24 |
| 1978 | 21 | 21 |
| 1977 | 12 | 12 |
| 1976 | 12 | 12 |
| 1975 | 16 | 16 |
| 1974 | 22 | 22 |
| 1973 | 12 | 12 |
| 1972 | 14 | 14 |
| 1971 | 9 | 9 |
| 1970 | 10 | 10 |
| 1969 | 5 | 5 |
| 1966 | 5 | 5 |
| 1960 | 7 | 7 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 |
| 1957 | 5 | 5 |
| 1955 | 6 | 6 |
| 1954 | 5 | 5 |
| 1953 | 8 | 8 |
| 1950 | 6 | 6 |
| 1949 | 9 | 9 |
| 1948 | 5 | 5 |
| 1945 | 5 | 5 |
| 1943 | 5 | 5 |
| 1941 | 5 | 5 |
| 1939 | 6 | 6 |
| 1938 | 6 | 6 |
| 1936 | 5 | 5 |
| 1935 | 6 | 6 |
| 1934 | 5 | 5 |
| 1933 | 5 | 5 |
| 1932 | 7 | 7 |
| 1929 | 7 | 7 |
| 1928 | 5 | 5 |
| 1925 | 9 | 9 |
| 1924 | 9 | 9 |
| 1923 | 8 | 8 |
| 1922 | 7 | 7 |
| 1920 | 8 | 8 |
| 1919 | 6 | 6 |
| 1914 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Obadiah (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 12 | |
| CA | 8 | |
| FL | 8 | |
| GA | 8 | |
| MO | 8 | |
| PA | 7 | |
| VA | 6 | |
| IN | 6 | |
| NC | 6 | |
| MI | 5 | |
| AZ | 5 |