Tobias
toh-BYE-us /toʊˈbaɪ.əs/
Meaning of Tobias
Tobias is the Greek form of the Hebrew טוֹבִיָּה (Toviyyah): tov ('good') + yah (a short form of Yahweh). The full meaning is 'Yahweh is good.' In the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit, Tobias is the son of Tobit, accompanied by the angel Raphael on his journey. The name is particularly popular in German-speaking countries and Scandinavia, and has grown in English use through the 2010s.
How to pronounce Tobias
In German: to-BEE-as (three syllables, stress on second).
Current popularity of Tobias
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #250 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #72 |
| Germany (GfdS) | 2024 | #25 |
Notable bearers of Tobias
Tobias (Book of Tobit); Tobias Smollett (novelist, 1721–1771); Toby (the character and the dog).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Tobias — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31