Obie
Named after the actress Merle Oberon, whose husband Lucien Ballard used this kind of lighting to hide small scars on her face after a car accident.
Every Obie since 1880 — 4,436 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Obie
Obie is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,065 in 2025 with 10 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 4,436 American babies have been named Obie — about 94% boys and 6% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1924, when 95 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Obie stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Obie year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 10 | #8,065 |
| 2024 | — | — | 18 | #5,387 |
| 2023 | — | — | 15 | #6,143 |
| 2022 | — | — | 22 | #4,657 |
| 2021 | — | — | 16 | #5,713 |
| 2020 | — | — | 12 | #6,921 |
| 2019 | — | — | 12 | #7,063 |
| 2018 | — | — | 19 | #5,054 |
| 2017 | — | — | 11 | #7,412 |
| 2016 | — | — | 13 | #6,615 |
| 2015 | — | — | 15 | #5,916 |
| 2014 | — | — | 9 | #8,611 |
| 2013 | — | — | 5 | #13,524 |
| 2012 | — | — | 12 | #6,922 |
| 2011 | — | — | 13 | #6,487 |
| 2010 | — | — | 9 | #8,603 |
| 2009 | — | — | 6 | #12,060 |
| 2008 | — | — | 15 | #5,983 |
| 2007 | — | — | 22 | #4,462 |
| 2006 | — | — | 23 | #4,188 |
| 2005 | — | — | 22 | #4,150 |
| 2004 | — | — | 27 | #3,516 |
| 2003 | — | — | 6 | #10,506 |
| 2002 | — | — | 7 | #9,124 |
| 2001 | — | — | 6 | #10,181 |
| 2000 | — | — | 7 | #8,864 |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | 10 | #5,269 |
| 1985 | — | — | 14 | #3,337 |
| 1980 | — | — | 16 | #2,920 |
| 1975 | — | — | 12 | #3,187 |
| 1970 | — | — | 27 | #1,688 |
| 1965 | — | — | 24 | #1,615 |
| 1960 | — | — | 28 | #1,543 |
| 1955 | — | — | 39 | #1,209 |
| 1950 | — | — | 43 | #1,081 |
| 1945 | 8 | #3,604 | 50 | #909 |
| 1940 | 9 | #3,144 | 59 | #817 |
| 1935 | 5 | #4,723 | 62 | #788 |
| 1930 | 7 | #3,953 | 58 | #871 |
| 1925 | 9 | #3,591 | 60 | #867 |
| 1920 | — | — | 79 | #735 |
| 1915 | 8 | #3,349 | 69 | #711 |
| 1910 | 6 | #2,333 | 23 | #613 |
| 1905 | 9 | #1,391 | 21 | #503 |
| 1900 | 5 | #2,142 | 15 | #670 |
| 1895 | — | — | 16 | #520 |
| 1890 | — | — | 9 | #721 |
| 1885 | — | — | 7 | #817 |
| 1880 | — | — | 9 | #670 |
Famous people named Obie
- Obie Trice Singer · b. 1977
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Obie mean?
Named after the actress Merle Oberon, whose husband Lucien Ballard used this kind of lighting to hide small scars on her face after a car accident.
How popular is the name Obie in 2025?
Obie ranked #8,065 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 10 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Obie?
4,436 babies have been named Obie in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Obie most popular?
Obie peaked in 1924, when 95 newborns received the name.
Is Obie a boy or girl name?
Obie is used for both: about 6% of babies named Obie have been girls and 94% boys.
Is the name Obie rising or falling?
Obie is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Obie?
Well-known people named Obie include Obie Trice (singer).