Obadiah
/OW-V-AA-D-IY-Y-AA/
Servant of the LORD, from Hebrew obed or eved (servant) joined with Yah (the LORD). A prophetic biblical name, borne by the shortest book of the Hebrew prophets, it frames devotion as humble service, casting the bearer as one whose life is given over wholly to God.
See Obadiah scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Obadiah:
Yes — Obadiah is a Jewish boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning “Servant of the LORD, from Hebrew obed or eved (servant) joined with Yah (the LORD). A prophetic biblical name, borne by the shortest book of the Hebrew prophets, it frames devotion as humble service, casting the bearer as one whose life is given over wholly to God.”. It also appears in Christian tradition.
How well does Obadiah fit your family?
This page tells you what Obadiah means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
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Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Obadiah is a boy's name of Hebrew origin, traditionally used in Jewish families. The name means "Servant of the LORD, from Hebrew obed or eved (servant) joined with Yah (the LORD). A prophetic biblical name, borne by the shortest book of the Hebrew prophets, it frames devotion as humble service, casting the bearer as one whose life is given over wholly to God." and belongs to the Divine cluster — names rooted in sacred meaning and spiritual tradition.
Beyond its Jewish heritage, Obadiah is also used in Christian traditions, reflecting how this name has traveled across cultures.
Common among American, European, MiddleEastern, Israeli families, Obadiah carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What would a baby named Obadiah look like?
NameRoot imagines a one-of-a-kind AI baby portrait for every name, shaped by its heritage — the features, the colouring, the feeling a name like Obadiah carries. No two are alike.
See Obadiah's portrait — and its full score — the moment you open the app.
See Obadiah's baby portrait →What does Obadiah's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Obadiah resonates in either tradition.
Obadiah's destiny number is 4 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Obadiah's full reading →
Does Obadiah go with your family's names?
Obadiah breaks into 7 sounds: /OW-V-AA-D-IY-Y-AA/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Obadiah sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Obadiah beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Obadiah — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Obadiah
If Obadiah resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Jewish boy names, common in American families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Jewish boy names from the Divine cluster
Names that sound similar
Jewish boy names that open with the same syllables as Obadiah
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Obadiah — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Obadiah
What does the name Obadiah mean?
Obadiah means "Servant of the LORD, from Hebrew obed or eved (servant) joined with Yah (the LORD). A prophetic biblical name, borne by the shortest book of the Hebrew prophets, it frames devotion as humble service, casting the bearer as one whose life is given over wholly to God.." It is a boy name of Hebrew origin, traditionally used in Jewish families.
Is Obadiah a boy or girl name?
Obadiah is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Obadiah?
Obadiah is of Hebrew origin, used in Jewish, Christian traditions, commonly among American, European, MiddleEastern families.
Is Obadiah a Jewish name?
Yes. Obadiah is a boy name traditionally used in Jewish families, of Hebrew origin. It also appears in Christian tradition.
What does Obadiah mean in Hebrew?
Obadiah originates from Hebrew, where it means "Servant of the LORD, from Hebrew obed or eved (servant) joined with Yah (the LORD). A prophetic biblical name, borne by the shortest book of the Hebrew prophets, it frames devotion as humble service, casting the bearer as one whose life is given over wholly to God.."
What are common nicknames for Obadiah?
Common short forms of Obadiah include Obadi, Obad.
What is the numerology of Obadiah?
Obadiah has a Pythagorean destiny number of 4 — stability and disciplined work.
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