Tobias is a boy's name deriving from Hebrew and Greek roots, meaning "God is good." Thanks to the Book of Tobias in the Deuterocanon/Apocrypha of the Bible, this name became popular for parents of the Christian and Jewish faith. In English-speaking countries, the name is often shortened to Toby, a standalone legend in its own right. Tobias, however, comes from a long line of distinguished and culturally significant figures, from eighteenth-century novelist Tobias Smollet to Harry Potter's Tobias Snape, father of Severus. Possessing a multi-faceted background has made Tobias a universally appealing choice.