Holding steady.
Popularity of Boby since 1919
Babies named Boby per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 68 |
| 1930s | 158 |
| 1940s | 72 |
| 1950s | 11 |
| 1960s | 21 |
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 18 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Boby is a rare respelling of Bobby, the familiar diminutive of Robert. First recorded in 1919, the name saw its peak in 1935 with just 5 births, reflecting the popularity of Robert and its nicknames during that era. The spelling Boby, however, never achieved the same level of adoption as Bobby, remaining an infrequent variant. In the decades since the 1930s, its usage has been stable but very low, with only occasional appearances in the data. Despite its rarity, Boby follows a pattern common among English nicknames: a familiar sound rendered in a simplified or phonetic spelling. The name has no strong association with any particular state or region, and it has not experienced a revival.
Boby is a variant spelling of Bobby, itself a diminutive of Robert. Robert derives from the Germanic elements 'hrod' meaning 'fame' and 'beraht' meaning 'bright'. The spelling Boby is uncommon but appears occasionally in early 20th century U.S. records, likely as a simplified or phonetic form.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bob, Rob, Bobby
Sibling names for Boby
Names that share Boby's style, for a brother or sister.
