Toby

Toby - A very unique male name

Toby appeared on the charts for the first time in 1918 on position #1844. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Toby and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Toby? 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 Toby. The baby boy name Toby was given to 171 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1019 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 8,575 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Toby peaked in popularity 51 years ago in 1975 on position 188.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Toby, 1-5?

Toby is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Toby is currently topping the baby name charts in Kentucky at position #481 - and is the least popular in Illinois at position #1,460.

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 Toby is where you live.

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Toby origin and meaning

Hebrew — diminutive of Tobias

Pet form of Tobias, the Greek form of Hebrew Toviyah, 'God is good'

Toby began as the medieval pet form of Tobias and has long stood on its own. It peaked in 1975 and is now inching back up, part of the revival of friendly nickname names.

Attested etymology

Toby is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Toby

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

Toivo / Tab / Tuff / Tovia / Tobey / Tuvia / Tobe / Tobiah / Tobie / Tobi /

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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 Toby

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 Toby 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 Toby?

2 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

TOH-bee · /ˈtoʊbi/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Tobias — The full name Toby shortens — a separate, fuller name.
• Tobi — I-ending spelling variant.

Nicknames: Tobe

Famous bearers

• Toby Keith — American country singer (1961–2024) Contemporary
• Toby Jones — English actor, known for voicing Dobby and many film roles (b. 1966) Contemporary

Style

Nickname nameClassic

Why parents choose it

Toby is friendly and approachable, boyish without being childish. It is gently rising again.

Worth knowing

• It is also a very popular dog's name — some families mind, most don't.
• Many will assume the full name is Tobias.