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Tobiah

Boy Name #6,158 Most Popular Hidden Gem 3 Syllables

An ancient Hebrew name meaning God is good

Hebrew Jewish Christian English
Spiritual Classic Literary Traditional

Meaning & Origin

"God is good, Yahweh is good"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
"goodness of God"
Origin: Semitic
Language: English

The Story of Tobiah

Tobiah is a Hebrew name (טוֹבִיָּה, Tōviyyāh) composed of tov (good) and yah (a shortened form of Yahweh, the Hebrew name of God). It means Yahweh is good or God is good. The name appears prominently in the Hebrew Bible — Tobiah the Ammonite was an adversary of Nehemiah in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, while Tobit (Book of Tobit in the Apocrypha) features a patriarch named Tobit whose son Tobias has various adventures guided by the archangel Raphael.

Tobiah is the less common Hebrew form compared to the Latinized Tobias, which has seen revival in English-speaking countries since the 2000s. Tobiah appeals to parents wanting the biblical authenticity of the original Hebrew form while still connecting to the popular Toby nickname.

In Judaism, Tobiah has ancient significance as a name from the Hebrew scriptures. The Book of Tobit (Tobias in Greek) is an important deuterocanonical work, and the archangel Raphael's guidance of Tobias/Tobiah is a beloved narrative of divine protection and healing.

Fun Facts

  • Tobiah appears in the Book of Nehemiah as an opponent of the rebuilding of Jerusalem
  • The archangel Raphael guides Tobias on a healing journey in the apocryphal Book of Tobit

Tobiah in Other Languages

Greek Τωβίας
Latin Tobias
French Tobie
German Tobias
Hebrew טוֹבִיָּה

Popularity Over Time

#6,158
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1977 Based on SSA data 1880–present

Famous People Named Tobiah

T

Tobias Wolff

Writer

1945

American short story writer and memoirist, author of This Boy's Life

T

Tobiah the Ammonite

Other

Historical figure from the Hebrew Bible, opponent of Nehemiah during the rebuilding of Jerusalem

Quick Facts

Gender
Boy
Syllables
3
Popularity Rank
#6,158
Total SSA Count
15
Cultural Origins
Hebrew Jewish Christian English
Pronunciation
Easy
Formality
Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease
Moderate

Alternative Spellings

Common Nicknames

Toby Tobi

Middle Name Ideas

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Sibling Names

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Frequently Asked Questions About Tobiah

What does the name Tobiah mean?
"God is good, Yahweh is good" (from Hebrew). "goodness of God" (from Semitic). Tobiah is a Hebrew name (טוֹבִיָּה, Tōviyyāh) composed of tov (good) and yah (a shortened form of Yahweh, the Hebrew name of God). It means Yahweh is good or God is good. The name appears prominently in the Hebrew Bible — Tobiah the Ammonite was an adversary of Nehemiah in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, while Tobit (Book of Tobit in the Apocrypha) features a patriarch named Tobit whose son Tobias has various adventures guided by the archangel Raphael.
What is the origin of the name Tobiah?
Tobiah has Hebrew, Semitic, Jewish, Christian, and English origins. In Hebrew, it means "God is good, Yahweh is good". In Semitic, it means "goodness of God".
Is Tobiah a boy or girl name?
Tobiah is primarily used as a boy name.
How popular is the name Tobiah?
Tobiah is currently ranked #6158 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Tobiah?
Common nicknames for Tobiah include Toby and Tobi.
What are good middle names for Tobiah?
Popular middle name pairings include Tobiah James, Tobiah Samuel, Tobiah Elijah, Tobiah David, and Tobiah Noah.
What are good sibling names for Tobiah?
Names that pair well with Tobiah as siblings include Miriam, Ezra, Elias, Ruth, Caleb, and Lydia.
How many syllables does Tobiah have?
Tobiah has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Tobiah a common or rare name?
Tobiah is an uncommon name, ranked #6158 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Tobiah

Tobiah is a boy name with Hebrew, Jewish, Christian, and English origins . The name means "God is good, Yahweh is good" in Hebrew .

Tobiah is currently ranked #6,158 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Tobiah has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.

Common nicknames for Tobiah include Toby and Tobi. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Tobiah include Tobias, Tobin, Tobi . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.

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