Meaning and background
The story behind Obsidian
Obsidian is a type of natural volcanic glass, often very dark in colour. Its English name traces to Latin *obsidianus*, linked in the historical record to a supposed Roman discoverer called Obsius. That origin is more specific, and more qualified, than simply calling it an ancient word for black. It is a long, distinctive name whose factual association is geological rather than mystical.
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About Obsidian
Recorded as a dog’s name
Obsidian appears in 2 dog licence records in the 2026 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/əbsɪdiən/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the second syllable in the recorded US readings.
View dictionary notation
/əbsɪdiən/ · primary stress on syllable 2AH0 B S IH1 D IY0 AH0 N
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
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Sources and research notes (2)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.