A 1930s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Robbie since 1880
Babies named Robbie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1957, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Robbie's real moment was 1932.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 63 | 5 |
| 1890s | 293 | 13 |
| 1900s | 531 | 40 |
| 1910s | 1,840 | 198 |
| 1920s | 3,067 | 303 |
| 1930s | 3,133 | 455 |
| 1940s | 3,030 | 879 |
| 1950s | 4,087 | 2,541 |
| 1960s | 3,339 | 6,803 |
| 1970s | 1,468 | 4,651 |
| 1980s | 698 | 2,487 |
| 1990s | 392 | 1,244 |
| 2000s | 206 | 725 |
| 2010s | 164 | 639 |
| 2020s | 242 | 403 |
Meaning & origin
Robbie is a familiar and friendly diminutive of the classic name Robert. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880, but its peak year came in 1932, during the height of Robert's popularity. After a long decline, the name has been on the rise again since 2015, showing renewed interest in vintage nickname-style names. In the latest data (2025), Robbie ranks 3130th overall, with approximately 1 in every 31,515 newborns receiving the name. Top states for Robbie include California and Texas, reflecting broad geographic appeal. Though still unisex, Robbie is overwhelmingly used for boys today. Its charm lies in its approachable sound and the enduring legacy of its root name Robert.
Robbie is a diminutive of Robert, which comes from the Old Germanic elements 'hrod' (fame) and 'beraht' (bright). Robert was introduced to Britain by the Normans and became one of the most enduringly popular masculine names in the English-speaking world. Robbie emerged as a familiar short form in Scotland and spread across the British Isles and beyond.
Where Robbie is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Robbie” around the world
Where Robbie lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Ireland
32
babies in 2025
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rob, Robby
Sibling names for Robbie
Names that share Robbie's style, for a brother or sister.
