Obed
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "worshiper" or "servant of God".
Name Census estimates that about 3,625 living Americans carry the first name Obed. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Obed today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Obed births was 2005 (137 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Obed. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
3.6K
~ 1 in 94,553 Americans
Peak year
2005
137 babies that year
Average age
25
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,945
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Obed: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Obed from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 1,083 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Obed remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Obed by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Obed during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Obeds live
The SSA's state-level files cover 16 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Obed, while Tennessee, Oregon, Massachusetts recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 121 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Obed
The name Obed has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "עֹבֵד" ('ōḇḗḏ), meaning "servant" or "worshipper". The name was particularly significant in the biblical era, as it carried connotations of devotion and reverence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Obed can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible. In the Book of Ruth, Obed is mentioned as the son of Boaz and Ruth, and the grandfather of King David. This lineage underscores the historical and religious significance of the name within the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Obed. One of the earliest recorded figures was Obed, the son of Shemaiah, who was mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:37-38 in the Bible. Another prominent figure was Obed, the father of Jesse, who was the father of the famous King David, as mentioned in Ruth 4:17.
In the 17th century, Obed Edom was a Levite mentioned in the Old Testament who gained fame for hosting the Ark of the Covenant in his home. His faithfulness and reverence were celebrated in the biblical accounts.
During the 18th century, Obed Hussey (1792-1860) was an American inventor who is credited with developing and patenting one of the earliest successful grain reapers, revolutionizing the agricultural industry.
In the 19th century, Obed Waterhouse (1835-1876) was a British architect known for his exceptional work on various public buildings, including the Holborn Town Hall in London.
As the name Obed has deep roots in the Hebrew language and biblical tradition, it has been embraced by various cultures and communities over the centuries. While its popularity may have fluctuated, the name continues to carry a sense of reverence and devotion, reflecting its ancient origins.
People
Obed + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Obed as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Obed: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Obed?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3,625 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Obed going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 94,553 US residents.
Is Obed a common name?
We classify Obed as "Rare". It ranks above 95.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 4,063 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Obed most popular?
The single biggest year for Obed was 2005, when 137 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Obed is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Obed a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Obed in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.