Tobias
Tobias is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God is good.
Origin and history
Tobias is a classic name derived from the Hebrew name Tobiah, meaning 'God is good.' It entered Western naming traditions through the Greek and Latin forms of the Old Testament / Apocrypha. In the United States, it has experienced a steady surge in popularity since the 2000s and is now a well-established modern choice.
Popularity in the United States
29,322 babies in the United States have been named Tobias since 1880. It ranks #688 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #274.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.4 %)
- TX (7.7 %)
- NY (5.4 %)
- FL (5.4 %)
- OH (4.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 38 |
| 1890-1900 | 23 |
| 1900-1910 | 37 |
| 1910-1920 | 144 |
| 1920-1930 | 155 |
| 1930-1940 | 107 |
| 1940-1950 | 160 |
| 1950-1960 | 243 |
| 1960-1970 | 576 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,102 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,807 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,266 |
| 2000-2010 | 4,811 |
| 2010-2019 | 9,410 |
| 2020-2029 | 7,443 |
Famous people named Tobias
- Tobias Menzies: Actor
- Tobias Harris: Athlete, Basketball player
- Tobias Wolff: Author, Professor
Nicknames
Toby, Tobe
Fun facts
- The name stems from the Hebrew Tobiah, combining the elements 'tov' (good) and 'Yah' (God).
- Tobias has been used frequently in literature and television, from Tobias Smollett's 18th-century novels to modern media.