Zebadiah Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: zeh-bah-DIE-uh /zɛbəˈdaɪə/
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God has bestowed
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Zebadiah has its roots in the Hebrew language, originating from the name "Zĕbādhyāh," which translates to "Yahweh has bestowed" or "God has given." This name is composed of two elements: "zabad," meaning "to give," and "Yah," a shortened form of Yahweh, the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible. The name made its way into English through various translations of the Bible, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries, as biblical names were adopted into English-speaking cultures.
Historically, Zebadiah appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Old Testament, where it is associated with several figures. One notable Zebadiah is mentioned in the Book of Chronicles as a Levite and a descendant of the priestly line, serving during the reign of King David.
This connection to a significant biblical figure underscores the name's importance in Jewish tradition. The name also appears in the genealogies of the tribes of Israel, reinforcing its historical and cultural significance within the context of ancient Israelite society.
Culturally, Zebadiah carries connotations of divine favor and blessing, reflecting the belief in God's providence. The name has been embraced in various forms throughout history, with diminutive forms like "Zeb" emerging in some contexts.
Its enduring presence in religious texts and its association with key biblical narratives have contributed to its lasting resonance in Judeo-Christian traditions. As a name, Zebadiah encapsulates themes of divine gift and heritage, making it a significant choice within the historical framework of biblical names.
Fictional characters named Zebadiah
The following list of fictional characters named Zebadiah 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.
Zebadiah is a fictional character from the TV series The X-Files. He is a member of a cult known as the Children of the Corn who plays a significant role in the episode 'The Field Where I Died.'.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zebadiah, 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 Zebadiah. 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 Zebadiah was first seen in the United States in 1974.
Zebadiah has ranked as high as #1250 nationally, which occurred in 2001, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Zebadiah has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Zebadiah 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 Zebadiah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Zebadiah (2022)
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 | 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 Zebadiah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2007 | 25 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2005 | 25 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2003 | 25 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2001 | 49 |
| 2000 | 25 |
| 1999 | 42 |
| 1998 | 25 |
| 1997 | 28 |
| 1996 | 33 |
| 1995 | 22 |
| 1994 | 25 |
| 1993 | 18 |
| 1992 | 21 |
| 1991 | 23 |
| 1990 | 12 |
| 1989 | 19 |
| 1988 | 20 |
| 1987 | 21 |
| 1986 | 27 |
| 1985 | 27 |
| 1984 | 24 |
| 1983 | 14 |
| 1982 | 12 |
| 1981 | 23 |
| 1980 | 24 |
| 1979 | 25 |
| 1978 | 15 |
| 1977 | 11 |
| 1976 | 14 |
| 1975 | 6 |
| 1974 | 8 |