Kolbe

Kolbe - A very unique male name

Kolbe appeared on the charts for the first time in 1998 on position #2430. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kolbe and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kolbe? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Kolbe. The baby boy name Kolbe was given to 36 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1954 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 40,730 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kolbe peaked in popularity 2 years ago in 2024 on position 1932.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kolbe, 1-5?

Kolbe is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kolbe is currently topping the baby name charts in Kansas at position #654 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,654.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Kolbe is where you live.

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Kolbe origin and meaning

German surname

A transferred German surname; its own origin is uncertain (possibly from a place name or a nickname for a club/stick)

Kolbe as a US boys' name is essentially a tribute name: St Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish priest who died at Auschwitz in 1941 protecting another prisoner, canonised in 1982 — but his name Kolbe is a surname, included here because this surname is the documented reason Kolbe became a first name at all, in Catholic families. Use begins in 1998 and is rising slowly.

Origin uncertain

Kolbe is a 5 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Kolbe, pop culture references for the name Kolbe and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Kolbe

We've found the following names that sound similar to Kolbe, sorted by popularity.

Kaleb / Kolby / Kelby / Kayleb / Khalif / Kalob / Kalib / Khaleb / Kalub / Kaileb /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Kolbe

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Kolbe a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Kolbe?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KOHL-bee · /ˈkoʊlbi/
The data table lists 1 syllable, but Kolbe is spoken in two: KOHL-bee.

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Colby — The English surname name it resembles; a different name

Famous bearers

• Maximilian Kolbe — Polish Franciscan friar and saint who volunteered to die in place of another prisoner at Auschwitz — Kolbe is his surname, and the reason the name is used as a first name (1894–1941) Historical

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Catholic parents choose Kolbe to honour St Maximilian Kolbe directly — the surname is the tribute.

Worth knowing

• Most people will hear Colby; the saint connection needs explaining outside Catholic circles.