Boy name · Hebrew
Tobias
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: God is goodTobias is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "God is good". It is used in English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish.
- Meaning
- God is good
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #283 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Tobias
As a boy's name, Tobias comes from Hebrew and means "God is good". It is used in English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish. In Spanish it is spelled Tobías.
In German, say toh-BEE-ahs. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Tobias is also a surname: the 2,538th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 13,875 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Tobias on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Tobias on 6 lists.
“Yahweh is good; Hebrew. Hero of the Book of Tobit (in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles)”
From Biblical names, names that honor God
“Yahweh is good; Hebrew. Hero of the Book of Tobit”
From Boy middle names, biblical middle names for boys
“God is good; Hebrew. Toby for short; from the Book of Tobit”
From Classic boy names, classic biblical boy names
“Hebrew for 'God is good,' from the Book of Tobit”
From Priest names, cool priest names
“God is good; Hebrew. Say toh-BEE-ahs”
From German boy names, biblical and saints' names in German
“God is good; Hebrew. Hero of the Book of Tobit. Say toh-BEE-ahs”
From Spanish boy names, spanish boy names from the Bible
How popular is Tobias?
- US rank in 2025
- #283
- 1,201 babies, 703 per million boys
- Best rank
- #246 in 2016
- 1,523 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 29,322
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 35 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 20 per million |
| 1900s | 27 per million |
| 1910s | 22 per million |
| 1920s | 14 per million |
| 1930s | 10 per million |
| 1940s | 11 per million |
| 1950s | 12 per million |
| 1960s | 30 per million |
| 1970s | 127 per million |
| 1980s | 98 per million |
| 1990s | 116 per million |
| 2000s | 241 per million |
| 2010s | 500 per million |
| 2020s | 718 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #246 | #269 | #273 | #272 | #263 | #276 | #275 | #279 | #280 | #283 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Tobias
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- TobiahGod is good (Hebrew, boy)
- TobiaszGod is good (Hebrew, boy)
- TobyGod is good (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Tobias
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- TomásA twin (Aramaic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- AgataGood, from Greek agathos (Greek, girl)
- HassanHandsome, good (Arabic, boy)
- AgathaGood (Greek, girl)
- AgatheGood one (Greek, girl)
- BushraGood news (Arabic, girl)
- DariaHolding firm the good (Persian, girl)
- DariusHe who holds firm the good (Persian, boy)
- DaryaHolding firm the good; also sea in Persian (Persian, girl)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- EudoraGood gift (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Tobias
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
Tobias: common questions
What does the name Tobias mean?
Tobias comes from Hebrew and means "God is good".
Is Tobias a boy or girl name?
Tobias is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Tobias come from?
Tobias comes from Hebrew and means "God is good". Today it is used in English, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish.
How popular is the name Tobias?
Tobias ranked #283 in the US in 2025, with 1,201 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Tobias?
Forms of Tobias with the same meaning and origin include Tobiah (English), Tobiasz (Polish) and Toby (English).
What middle names go with Tobias?
Middle names that flow well with Tobias include Basil, Beau, David, Drake and Elton. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.