Obed Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: OH-bed //ˈoʊ.bɛd//
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Hebrew: servant; worshipper
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Obed has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word "עֹבֵד" (Oved), which means "servant" or "worshipper." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, where it is transliterated into Greek as "Οβήδ" (Obēd) and later into Latin as "Obed." The name made its way into Old French and subsequently into Middle English, retaining its original form throughout these linguistic transitions. The etymological journey reflects a consistent meaning tied to servitude and devotion, which is significant in the context of biblical narratives.
Historically, Obed is notably recognized as a biblical figure in the Book of Ruth, where he is introduced as the son of Ruth and Boaz, and the grandfather of King David. This connection places Obed in a pivotal role within the genealogical lineage leading to the Davidic line, which is significant in Jewish and Christian traditions.
The mention of Obed in the genealogies of the Bible, particularly in the context of the Davidic covenant, has contributed to the name's enduring presence in religious texts and traditions. Culturally, the name Obed carries connotations of loyalty and service, reflecting the virtues celebrated in biblical narratives.
The association of Obed with themes of faithfulness and devotion has allowed the name to resonate within various religious communities. Additionally, the diminutive form "Ovi" has been used in some cultures, though it is less prominent historically.
Overall, the name Obed encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural significance, rooted deeply in the traditions of the Abrahamic faiths.
Famous people named Obed
In this section, you will find notable people named Obed. 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 Obed who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Obed 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.
Obed Hussey is an inventor best known for the mechanical reaper and advancements in agricultural technology.
Obed Edom is a biblical figure best known for housing the Ark of the Covenant and being blessed by God for doing so.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Obed, 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 Obed. 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 Obed was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Obed has ranked as high as #1213 nationally, which occurred in 2005, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Arizona.
In the past 5 years the name Obed has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Obed 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 Obed was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Obed (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 18 | |
| CA | 12 | |
| NM | 5 |
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 Obed.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 81 |
| 2023 | 84 |
| 2022 | 84 |
| 2021 | 83 |
| 2020 | 68 |
| 2019 | 68 |
| 2018 | 74 |
| 2017 | 62 |
| 2016 | 97 |
| 2015 | 88 |
| 2014 | 94 |
| 2013 | 99 |
| 2012 | 93 |
| 2011 | 100 |
| 2010 | 114 |
| 2009 | 117 |
| 2008 | 110 |
| 2007 | 118 |
| 2006 | 114 |
| 2005 | 137 |
| 2004 | 98 |
| 2003 | 95 |
| 2002 | 96 |
| 2001 | 87 |
| 2000 | 111 |
| 1999 | 71 |
| 1998 | 59 |
| 1997 | 63 |
| 1996 | 77 |
| 1995 | 58 |
| 1994 | 58 |
| 1993 | 62 |
| 1992 | 41 |
| 1991 | 64 |
| 1990 | 46 |
| 1989 | 41 |
| 1988 | 40 |
| 1987 | 37 |
| 1986 | 26 |
| 1985 | 33 |
| 1984 | 28 |
| 1983 | 28 |
| 1982 | 31 |
| 1981 | 33 |
| 1980 | 29 |
| 1979 | 31 |
| 1978 | 20 |
| 1977 | 17 |
| 1976 | 21 |
| 1975 | 15 |
| 1974 | 18 |
| 1973 | 25 |
| 1972 | 10 |
| 1971 | 13 |
| 1970 | 14 |
| 1969 | 12 |
| 1968 | 15 |
| 1967 | 15 |
| 1966 | 7 |
| 1965 | 5 |
| 1964 | 21 |
| 1963 | 12 |
| 1962 | 7 |
| 1961 | 11 |
| 1960 | 10 |
| 1959 | 13 |
| 1958 | 12 |
| 1957 | 6 |
| 1956 | 8 |
| 1955 | 9 |
| 1954 | 5 |
| 1953 | 5 |
| 1951 | 5 |
| 1950 | 8 |
| 1949 | 8 |
| 1948 | 8 |
| 1947 | 6 |
| 1946 | 10 |
| 1945 | 6 |
| 1943 | 10 |
| 1942 | 5 |
| 1941 | 10 |
| 1940 | 5 |
| 1938 | 5 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1936 | 9 |
| 1935 | 11 |
| 1934 | 13 |
| 1933 | 5 |
| 1932 | 11 |
| 1931 | 8 |
| 1930 | 9 |
| 1929 | 9 |
| 1928 | 8 |
| 1927 | 18 |
| 1926 | 12 |
| 1925 | 9 |
| 1924 | 18 |
| 1923 | 17 |
| 1922 | 18 |
| 1921 | 12 |
| 1920 | 15 |
| 1919 | 15 |
| 1918 | 16 |
| 1917 | 10 |
| 1916 | 17 |
| 1915 | 10 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1912 | 6 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1880 | 6 |