Obadiah Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Obadiah is a Hebrew name meaning 'servant of Yahweh'. It has evolved from the Hebrew 'Ovadiah' to the English 'Obadiah'. The name is associated with biblical significance and reflects traits of faithfulness and service. Although it is not widely used today, it carries a strong religious image.
The name Obadiah is most popular in Washington, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Obadiah has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Obadiah' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4291st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3792nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4311th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2996th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3266th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2869th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1636th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Obadiah' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Obadiah"
Pronunciation
/ˌoʊbəˈdaɪə/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Obadiah comes from the Hebrew name 'Ovadiah', meaning 'servant of Yahweh' or 'worshipper of God'.
Meaning
Servant of Yahweh
Language Evolution
Ovadiah (Hebrew), Obadiah (English)
Biblical Background
Obadiah is a biblical name found in the Old Testament, where Obadiah is a prophet.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity during the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly among Puritans and in religious contexts due to its biblical association.
Variants & Derivatives
Obie, Oddie
Modern Popularity & Image
Obadiah is less common today but retains a strong religious connotation, often associated with faith and devotion.
Famous People
Obadiah Holmes, an early American Baptist preacher, Obadiah Stane, a fictional character in the Marvel universe
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Obadiah"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Obadiah"
"Obadiah" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 4291st of 7545 | 52 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 3792nd of 6773 | 67 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4311th of 7552 | 56 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2996th of 10718 | 183 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3266th of 16616 | 272 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2869th of 24088 | 584 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1636th of 23106 | 1,202 |
Regional Popularity of "Obadiah" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
63.94% 4039th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
68.16% 3123rd/4582 |
- |
51.89% 3795th/7313 |
34.17% 2550th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
38.35% 1528th/3984 |
69.69% 3127th/4487 |
26.25% 1791st/6822 |
22.90% 1437th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Obadiah" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Obadiah"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Obadiah" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.