Find out how popular the first name Zebedee has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Zebedee by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Zebedee is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 34 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Zebedee.

The history of the first name Zebedee

The given name Zebedee has its origins in Ancient Greek and Aramaic languages. It is derived from the Hebrew name Zabdai, which means "gift of God" or "endowment of God". The name Zabdai is mentioned in the New Testament as the father of the apostles James and John.

Zebedee first appeared in the biblical texts of the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Mark, and the Gospel of Luke. It is believed that Zebedee was a fisherman from the village of Bethsaida, located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. He was the husband of Salome and the father of the apostles James and John, who were among the first disciples called by Jesus.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Zebedee is found in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament. The name is mentioned in the following verses: Matthew 4:21, Mark 1:19-20, and Luke 5:10. These verses describe the calling of James and John by Jesus while they were fishing with their father, Zebedee.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zebedee. One of the most famous was Zebedee, the father of the apostles James and John, who lived in the 1st century AD. Another notable figure was Zebedee Craft (c. 1779-1847), an American pioneer and explorer who was one of the founders of the city of Nashville, Tennessee.

Another individual named Zebedee was Zebedee Coltrin (1804-1887), an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a member of the Council of Fifty. Zebedee Weston (1809-1856) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and represented the Cambridge Town Club.

Lastly, Zebedee Crutchfield (1812-1887) was an American politician who served as a member of the Mississippi State Legislature and fought in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.

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 Zebedee was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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