Holding steady, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Obediah since 1912
Babies named Obediah per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1954, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Obediah's real moment was 1912.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 24 |
| 1920s | 23 |
| 1930s | 30 |
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 20 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 26 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 15 |
| 2000s | 16 |
| 2010s | 30 |
| 2020s | 31 |
Meaning & origin
Obediah is a rare biblical variant of Obadiah, peaking at rank 12,008 in 1912 when it first appeared in Social Security records. Since then it has remained exceedingly uncommon, with 1 in 341,615 boys receiving the name in 2025. Its trajectory is stable, neither rising nor falling significantly. The name carries strong Old Testament associations, appealing to families seeking a distinctive yet traditional choice. Though tied to no specific states, it fits alongside other biblical names with the '-iah' suffix.
Obediah is a variant of Obadiah, derived from the Hebrew name Ovadyah, meaning 'servant of Yahweh.' In the Bible, Obadiah is a minor prophet and also the name of several other figures. The spelling Obediah emerged as an English variant, particularly in the 17th century among Puritans, though it has never been common.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Obie, Diah
Sibling names for Obediah
Names that share Obediah's style, for a brother or sister.
