UK boy's name
Zebediah
A Hebrew masculine name meaning "gift of Jehovah" or "gift of God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Zebediah is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zebediah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3990, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 4 births.
This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2010 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Zebediah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Zebediah ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 4 boys were registered as Zebediah.
- • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zebediah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3990
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
2014
4 births
Estimated living
17
2026
Meaning
What does Zebediah mean?
The name Zebediah is derived from the Hebrew name Zebadyah, which means "gift of God" or "dowry of God." It has its roots in ancient Semitic languages and the Biblical tradition.
The earliest recorded use of the name Zebediah can be traced back to the New Testament of the Bible. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John, Zebedee is mentioned as the father of the apostles James and John, who were among the first disciples of Jesus Christ.
During the Middle Ages, the name Zebediah was relatively uncommon in most parts of Europe. However, it gained popularity among certain Protestant Christian groups, particularly in England and Scotland, where it was seen as a pious and virtuous name with strong Biblical connections.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Zebediah was Zebediah Crofton (c. 1626-1672), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works during the 17th century. Another notable figure was Zebediah Turvill (1656-1734), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Calne in the early 18th century.
In the American colonies, the name Zebediah was used by some Puritan families, reflecting their strong religious beliefs and desire to honor Biblical figures. Zebediah Wyman (1658-1718) was a prominent early settler in Massachusetts and served as a military officer during King William's War.
During the 19th century, the name Zebediah gained some popularity in various parts of the English-speaking world. Zebediah Colby (1804-1889) was an American explorer and surveyor who helped map the American West. Zebediah Killgrave (1836-1904) was a Scottish-born American politician who served as the 14th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.
Another notable figure with the name was Zebediah Peck (1819-1895), an American businessman and politician who was involved in the early development of the petroleum industry in Pennsylvania. His son, Zebediah Peck Jr. (1857-1923), also carried on the family name and worked in the oil industry.
While the name Zebediah has become less common in more recent times, it has left an enduring legacy as a unique and deeply meaningful name with strong ties to religious and historical traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zebediah over time
The chart below shows babies named Zebediah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Zebediah, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zebediah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zebediah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3990 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4521 | 13 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Zebediah
- Zachary 29,362
- Zak 9,988
- Zain 7,620
- Zac 7,272
- Zack 7,101
- Zakariya 5,447
- Zach 4,754
- Zayn 4,326
- Zachariah 3,234
- Zion 3,141
- Zane 2,818
- Zayd 2,609
FAQ
Zebediah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zebediah in the UK right now?
In 2021, Zebediah was ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Zebediah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 4 babies registered as Zebediah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zebediah?
A Hebrew masculine name meaning "gift of Jehovah" or "gift of God".
How many people are called Zebediah in the UK?
A total of 17 babies have been registered as Zebediah across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.