Obediah Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: oh-BED-ee-uh /oʊˈbɛdiə/
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Servant of God
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Obediah is derived from the Hebrew name 'Obadyah', which means 'servant of Yahweh' or 'worshipper of Yahweh'. The etymology can be traced back to the Hebrew root 'abad', meaning 'to serve', combined with 'Yah', a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh.
This name was then transliterated into Greek as 'Obadias' and later into Latin as 'Obadiah', before entering the English language through the Old Testament translations, particularly the King James Version in the early 17th century. Historically, Obediah is most notably associated with the biblical figure Obadiah, a minor prophet whose writings are contained in the Book of Obadiah, believed to have been composed in the 6th century BCE.
This book addresses the downfall of Edom and serves as a prophetic warning against pride and violence. The name has also been borne by various figures throughout Jewish history, including several Tannaim and medieval scholars, which contributed to its enduring presence in religious contexts.
Culturally, the name Obediah carries significant weight within Judeo-Christian traditions, symbolizing servitude and devotion to God. It has been used in various religious texts and liturgies, reinforcing its spiritual connotations.
The name's association with service has made it a meaningful choice in communities that emphasize faith and dedication. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Obie have emerged in some contexts, reflecting a more informal or affectionate usage, although the name Obediah itself remains rooted in its original religious significance.
Famous people named Obediah
In this section, you will find notable people named Obediah. 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 Obediah who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Obediah 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.
Obediah Harris is a musician best known for his work with the band The New Lost City Ramblers.
Obediah Brown is a notable figure in the field of education, recognized for his contributions to teaching methods.
Fictional characters named Obediah
The following list of fictional characters named Obediah 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.
Obediah Stane is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. He is a businessman and the primary antagonist in the Iron Man storyline, often portrayed as a mentor-turned-enemy to Tony Stark.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Obediah, 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 Obediah. 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 Obediah was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Obediah has ranked as high as #1056 nationally, which occurred in 1954, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Obediah has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Obediah 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 Obediah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Obediah
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.
No state data available for this year.
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 Obediah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 1997 | 5 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1991 | 5 |
| 1981 | 5 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1978 | 5 |
| 1977 | 5 |
| 1971 | 5 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1957 | 7 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1954 | 8 |
| 1949 | 6 |
| 1938 | 7 |
| 1935 | 6 |
| 1934 | 5 |
| 1931 | 5 |
| 1930 | 7 |
| 1929 | 5 |
| 1925 | 6 |
| 1924 | 7 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1919 | 5 |
| 1916 | 6 |
| 1914 | 7 |
| 1912 | 6 |