Variant of Uzziah, a Hebrew biblical name meaning "my strength is God," borne by a powerful king of Judah.
Oziah is a variant form of the Hebrew name Uzziah (also rendered Ozias in Greek and Latin), meaning 'God is my strength' or 'my strength is Yahweh.' In the Hebrew Bible, Uzziah was a celebrated king of Judah who reigned for approximately fifty-two years in the eighth century BCE, presiding over a period of military expansion, agricultural development, and relative prosperity. He is described in the Second Book of Chronicles as a king who 'did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,' though his story ends in tragic hubris when he attempts to offer incense in the Temple — a priestly prerogative — and is struck with leprosy.
The prophet Isaiah's ministry is dated from 'the year King Uzziah died,' cementing Uzziah's name at a pivotal moment in prophetic history. The Oziah spelling softens the name's biblical formality while preserving its unmistakable Hebraic structure, making it feel accessible to parents outside strictly observant communities. The 'Oz-' opening gives it an almost whimsical visual quality — an inevitable association with L.
Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz — while the '-iah' suffix firmly grounds it in the tradition of Hebrew theophoric names like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Nehemiah. Oziah is among a cluster of revived biblical names that have attracted interest as parents mine the Old Testament for alternatives to the now-ubiquitous Noah, Elijah, and Ezra. Its rarity makes it distinctive; its ancient roots give it substance. For families seeking a name with theological depth and a slight air of mystery, Oziah offers both — the gravitas of scripture wrapped in an unexpectedly modern sound.