Tobiah

Tobiah comes from a Hebrew name combining good with the divine name Yahweh. Its meaning is therefore Yahweh is good. The ending makes the Hebrew religious element visible in an English spelling, while related forms such as Tobias show how the name has been adapted in other language traditions.

One biblical Tobiah appears in the Book of Nehemiah as an Ammonite opponent of the rebuilding work. That particular bearer should be distinguished from the name's positive literal meaning and from other figures in the wider Tobias family. For families choosing a biblical name, both the wording of the meaning and the actual narrative can be relevant.