Holding steady.
Popularity of Cosby since 1908
Babies named Cosby per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 | 0 |
| 1910s | 5 | 43 |
| 1920s | 13 | 65 |
| 1930s | 0 | 53 |
| 1940s | 0 | 22 |
| 1950s | 0 | 18 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Cosby first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1914 and saw a brief period of use during the 1910s, reaching its peak rank in 1917. After the 1910s, the name fell out of common use and has remained extremely rare ever since, with no data for recent decades, indicating it is not currently in regular use. The name's trajectory is stable at near-zero usage. While it has seen no revival, the name is strongly associated with the surname of the famous entertainer Bill Cosby, which may influence perceptions. Cosby has not been recorded in any top state data, reflecting its historical rarity. As a given name, it carries the style of old Irish surname names but remains an uncommon choice.
Cosby is derived from an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Cósbhaigh, meaning 'descendant of Cósbhach', where Cósbhach may mean 'victorious'. The name was brought to prominence in the United States through the popularity of entertainer Bill Cosby in the late 20th century, though it has seen limited use as a given name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Coz
Variants: Crosby
Sibling names for Cosby
Names that share Cosby's style, for a brother or sister.
