Holding steady.
Popularity of Hobart since 1885
Babies named Hobart per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hobart's real moment was 1896.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 6 |
| 1890s | 348 |
| 1900s | 170 |
| 1910s | 640 |
| 1920s | 1,086 |
| 1930s | 529 |
| 1940s | 368 |
| 1950s | 272 |
| 1960s | 180 |
| 1970s | 112 |
| 1980s | 62 |
| 1990s | 22 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Hobart is a name with old-fashioned charm, most familiar from the capital of Tasmania. Its peak year was 1896, when it ranked highest in the United States, though it never broke into the top 500. The name's trajectory has been stable since its first recorded use in 1885, but it has become increasingly rare, with a 1-in-N ratio that is effectively zero in modern data. The name never registered a significant presence in any particular state. Hobart remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a vintage surname-style name with a solid historical pedigree.
Hobart is an English given name that originated as a surname, itself derived from either the place name Hobart in Kent or as a variant of Hubert (from Germanic hug 'heart, mind' + berht 'bright'). The name was occasionally used in honor of Sir Henry Hobart, a 17th-century English lawyer and politician. It saw modest use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hobe, Hart
Variants: Hubert
Sibling names for Hobart
Names that share Hobart's style, for a brother or sister.
