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Zebediah
Pronounced zeb-ə-DY-ə /ˌzɛb.əˈdaɪ.ə/Medium
Meaning: From the Hebrew Zebadiah — 'a gift of Yahweh; the Lord has bestowed' (zabad, 'to give, bestow', plus Yah, 'God')Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Zebediah comes from the Hebrew Zebadiah — 'a gift of Yahweh; the Lord has bestowed' (zabad, 'to give, bestow', plus Yah, 'God'). Several figures bear it in the Old Testament, and it is kin to Zebedee, the father of the apostles James and John. A lyrical, biblical name in the -iah family (said 'zeb-ə-DY-ə'; nickname Zeb).
In the U.S. it appears in devout families. Rare, a-gift-of-Yahweh at the root, and biblical.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Zebediah mean?
Zebediah is Hebrew for 'a gift of Yahweh; the Lord has bestowed'.
How do you pronounce Zebediah?
It's said zeb-ə-DY-ə /ˌzɛb.əˈdaɪ.ə/ — four syllables, stress on the third.
Is Zebediah a boy or girl name?
Zebediah is a boy's name.
How popular is Zebediah?
Zebediah is a rare name in the U.S.