Rising since 2015, #5,608 for boys today.
Popularity of Obsidian since 2013
Babies named Obsidian per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 34 |
| 2020s | 100 |
Meaning & origin
Obsidian is a rare, modern name that entered the U.S. baby name charts in 2013, later reaching its peak rank of 5,608 in 2025. It belongs to a growing trend of gemstone and nature-inspired names, but remains uncommon, with roughly 1 in every 106,755 boys receiving the name that year. Its trajectory has been rising since 2015, suggesting increasing but still niche appeal. The name has not yet appeared in top state rankings, reflecting its recent and limited adoption. Obsidian offers a sleek, strong sound that appeals to parents drawn to distinctive, elemental names.
Obsidian is a modern coinage taken directly from the name of the volcanic glass, which itself derives from the Latin 'Obsidianus lapis', a stone named after the Roman explorer Obsius, who supposedly discovered it in Ethiopia. The word entered English in the 17th century and has been adopted as a given name in the 21st century, likely due to its association with strength, sleekness, and the gemstone trend in baby names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sid, Obi, Odie
Sibling names for Obsidian
Names that share Obsidian's style, for a brother or sister.
