Find out how popular the first name Tobitha has been for the last 6 years (from 1976 to 1981) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Tobitha by gender

Based on the last 6 years of data, Tobitha is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1981, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Tobitha.

The history of the first name Tobitha

The name Tobitha is a feminine form of the Hebrew name Tobiah, which means "the Lord is good" or "goodness of the Lord." It has its roots in the Old Testament and the Jewish tradition. The name Tobiah first appears in the Book of Ezra, which describes the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem in the 5th century BC. One of the leaders of the exiles is named Tobiah the Ammonite.

In the Apocryphal book of Tobit, the main character is named Tobit, and his son is named Tobiah. This book, written around 200 BC, tells the story of Tobit's family and their trials and tribulations. The name Tobitha, the feminine form, is derived from this text.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Tobitha is in the New Testament book of Acts. In chapter 9, verse 36, a woman named Tabitha (the Aramaic version of Tobitha) is mentioned as a disciple of Jesus who lived in Joppa. She was known for her good deeds and charity work. When she died, Peter was summoned and brought her back to life, a miracle that led many people to believe in Christ.

In the 3rd century AD, there was a famous Christian martyr named Tobitha who was killed during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Decius. She is venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Another notable figure named Tobitha was Tobitha Bundock, a 17th-century English woman who was one of the first female patients admitted to the Bethlem Royal Hospital in London, known as Bedlam. She was admitted in 1632 and remained there until her death in 1659.

In the late 18th century, there was a Tobitha Wheelock, who was born in 1767 in Connecticut, USA. She was a teacher and educator who founded one of the first schools for Native American children in New England.

Finally, Tobitha Smollett was a Scottish author and playwright who lived from 1721 to 1805. She was the sister of the famous novelist Tobias Smollett and wrote several plays and novels herself, including the comic novel The Life and Adventures of Miss Peggy Andrews.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Tobitha was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tobitha, please contact us.

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