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Zebedee

♂ Boy

Pronounced ZEB-ə-dee /ˈzɛb.ə.di/High

Meaning: Gift of Yahweh; Greek form of Hebrew Zebadiah, the Galilean fisherman whose sons James and John became apostlesHigh

In 30 seconds: The fisherman who lent two sons to history: Zebedee — 'gift of Yahweh' — stayed with his nets while James and John followed. A bouncing, Z-led biblical rarity.
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Origin HighHebrew, Greek
MeaningGift of Yahweh; Greek form of Hebrew Zebadiah, the Galilean fisherman whose sons James and John became apostles
U.S. rank (2024)#3261 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births37 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,256

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419072024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Zebedee is the Greek-filtered form of Hebrew Zebadiah, 'Yahweh has given' — the Galilean fisherman whose sons, the apostles James and John, left his boat mid-mend to follow Jesus. The name bounced through English use after the Reformation and acquired a second, springier life via The Magic Roundabout's beloved character.

Today it is a true rarity with growing whimsy-appeal in Britain; American use is nearly nil, making it an adventurous Z-pick with apostolic anchoring and the nickname Zeb at hand.

Did you know? British children know Zebedee as the spring-bodied jack-in-the-box of The Magic Roundabout — 'Time for bed, said Zebedee' closed a generation's evenings.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Zebedee — etymology

Variations

ZebadiahZebZebedaios

Nicknames

ZebZebby

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Zebedee…

Zacchaeus— a fellow bouncy New Testament rarity
Ezekiel— the Z-led biblical heavyweight of the revival
Zakari— another Hebrew name
Zabdiel— a similarly popular pick
Zekiel— the same biblical feel

Browse the whole category: All Hebrew names →  ·  All Greek names →  ·  All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Zebedee mean?

Zebedee is the Greek form of Hebrew Zebadiah, meaning 'gift of Yahweh' — the father of the apostles James and John.

How do you pronounce Zebedee?

It's said ZEB-ə-dee /ˈzɛb.ə.di/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Zebedee a boy or girl name?

Zebedee is a boy's name.

How popular is Zebedee?

Zebedee is a vanishingly rare biblical name in the U.S., with cult charm in Britain.