Obed
/OW-B-EH-D/
From the Hebrew Oved, meaning 'servant' or 'worshipper' — from the root avad, 'to serve, to work, to worship,' which also gives the word eved ('servant'). The name expresses dedication and devotion: one who serves God. In the Bible, Obed is the son of Ruth and Boaz, born in Bethlehem, the grandfather of King David and therefore an ancestor in the messianic lineage — making his short name carry immense narrative weight in both Jewish and Christian tradition.
See Obed scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Obed:
Yes — Obed is a Jewish boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning “From the Hebrew Oved, meaning 'servant' or 'worshipper' — from the root avad, 'to serve, to work, to worship,' which also gives the word eved ('servant'). The name expresses dedication and devotion: one who serves God. In the Bible, Obed is the son of Ruth and Boaz, born in Bethlehem, the grandfather of King David and therefore an ancestor in the messianic lineage — making his short name carry immense narrative weight in both Jewish and Christian tradition.”. It also appears in Christian tradition.
How well does Obed fit your family?
This page tells you what Obed 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
Obed is a boy's name of Hebrew origin, traditionally used in Jewish families. The name means "From the Hebrew Oved, meaning 'servant' or 'worshipper' — from the root avad, 'to serve, to work, to worship,' which also gives the word eved ('servant'). The name expresses dedication and devotion: one who serves God. In the Bible, Obed is the son of Ruth and Boaz, born in Bethlehem, the grandfather of King David and therefore an ancestor in the messianic lineage — making his short name carry immense narrative weight in both Jewish and Christian tradition." and belongs to the Divine cluster — names rooted in sacred meaning and spiritual tradition.
Beyond its Jewish heritage, Obed is also used in Christian traditions, reflecting how this name has traveled across cultures.
Common among European, Arab, MiddleEastern, Israeli families, Obed carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What would a baby named Obed 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 Obed carries. No two are alike.
See Obed's portrait — and its full score — the moment you open the app.
See Obed's baby portrait →What does Obed'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 Obed resonates in either tradition.
Obed's destiny number is 8 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Obed's full reading →
Does Obed go with your family's names?
Obed breaks into 4 sounds: /OW-B-EH-D/. 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 Obed 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 Obed beside your family's names →
Names similar to Obed
If Obed 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 European 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 Obed
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Obed — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Obed
What does the name Obed mean?
Obed means "From the Hebrew Oved, meaning 'servant' or 'worshipper' — from the root avad, 'to serve, to work, to worship,' which also gives the word eved ('servant'). The name expresses dedication and devotion: one who serves God. In the Bible, Obed is the son of Ruth and Boaz, born in Bethlehem, the grandfather of King David and therefore an ancestor in the messianic lineage — making his short name carry immense narrative weight in both Jewish and Christian tradition.." It is a boy name of Hebrew origin, traditionally used in Jewish families.
Is Obed a boy or girl name?
Obed is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Obed?
Obed is of Hebrew origin, used in Jewish, Christian traditions, commonly among European, Arab, MiddleEastern families.
Is Obed a Jewish name?
Yes. Obed is a boy name traditionally used in Jewish families, of Hebrew origin. It also appears in Christian tradition.
What does Obed mean in Hebrew?
Obed originates from Hebrew, where it means "From the Hebrew Oved, meaning 'servant' or 'worshipper' — from the root avad, 'to serve, to work, to worship,' which also gives the word eved ('servant'). The name expresses dedication and devotion: one who serves God. In the Bible, Obed is the son of Ruth and Boaz, born in Bethlehem, the grandfather of King David and therefore an ancestor in the messianic lineage — making his short name carry immense narrative weight in both Jewish and Christian tradition.."
What is the numerology of Obed?
Obed has a Pythagorean destiny number of 8 — material mastery and executive power.
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