Declining since 2004, #977 for boys today.
Popularity of Toby since 1882
Babies named Toby per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0 | 6 |
| 1900s | 37 | 32 |
| 1910s | 294 | 163 |
| 1920s | 409 | 253 |
| 1930s | 947 | 501 |
| 1940s | 1,360 | 1,240 |
| 1950s | 957 | 2,124 |
| 1960s | 724 | 4,359 |
| 1970s | 966 | 9,884 |
| 1980s | 447 | 3,759 |
| 1990s | 366 | 3,127 |
| 2000s | 582 | 4,855 |
| 2010s | 737 | 3,403 |
| 2020s | 561 | 1,130 |
Meaning & origin
Toby has a long history as a friendly, approachable name. First recorded in the U.S. Social Security data in 1882, it saw a sustained climb in popularity through the mid-20th century, peaking at rank 1975 in 1975. Since 2004, however, its usage has been declining. Today Toby is given to roughly 1 in 7,299 newborn boys, placing it at rank 977. The name has found a particular niche in states like Kentucky, Missouri, and Minnesota, where it appears in the top names lists. Its biblical roots continue to appeal to many families, even as it has become less common in recent decades.
Toby is a medieval English diminutive of Tobias, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Toviyah, meaning 'Yahweh is good.' Tobias appears in the biblical Book of Tobit. Toby has been used in England since the Middle Ages and was revived in the 20th century.
Where Toby is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Toby” around the world
Where Toby lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
12
babies in 2025
New Zealand
#73
in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tobe
Sibling names for Toby
Names that share Toby's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Toby
Names whose popularity has moved with Toby's over the last 50 years.
