Obediah is a unique and rare name of Hebrew origin. It means "servant of God" or "worshipper of God". The name is derived from the Hebrew name 'Obed-Edom', which consists of two parts: 'Obed' meaning "servant" and 'Edom' meaning "red".
The name Obediah appears in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Samuel. Obededom, also known as Obediah, was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. He is considered to be a righteous man, and his faithfulness to God earned him a place in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures named Obediah. One of them is Obediah Cranson, a prominent English merchant and banker during the 18th century. Another notable figure is Obediah Southall, a British engineer who made significant contributions to the development of the steam engine.
Despite its biblical origins and historical significance, the name Obediah has not gained widespread popularity over time. It remains a rare choice for parents looking for an uncommon yet meaningful name for their child.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Obediah has been given to a total of 214 babies born in the United States over the years. While it's not a very common name, it does appear to have experienced several periods of popularity throughout history.
In fact, there were two notable peaks in births with the name Obediah: one between 1954 and 1957, during which time there were a total of 20 births (8 in 1954, 7 in 1956, and 5 in 1957), and another more recent peak between 2012 and 2023, with a total of 20 births over this period (7 in 2012, 5 in 2015, 8 in 2017, 6 in 2020, and 7 in 2021).
It's interesting to note that the name Obediah has consistently remained relatively rare throughout history, with most years seeing between five and seven births with this name. However, there were some periods of time where it was entirely absent from birth records.
Overall, while Obediah may not be one of the most popular baby names in the United States, it does appear to have had some moments of popularity over the years.