The nameToby
Toby is the English form of Tobias, a biblical name meaning "God is good". It is popular in England and Wales.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
Meaning
Toby comes from Tobias, from the Hebrew Toviyyah, "Yahweh is good".
Origin
Hebrew, through the Greek Tobias.
History
Sir Toby Belch in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and the Toby jug, a mug shaped like a seated man, made the name familiar. In England and Wales Toby reached 42nd place in 2014.
Did you know?
- The actor Toby Jones is the voice of Dobby the house elf in the Harry Potter films.
Famous people named Toby
- Toby Jones, actor
- Toby Keith, country singer
- Toby Stephens, actor
Popularity of the name Toby
Toby in the United States
Toby was most popular in the United States in the 1970s, with 10,851 births over the decade, 25% of all recorded babies named Toby. Its rise began around 1934, and it peaked in 1975. Half of all babies named Toby in the United States were born before 1976, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 270 births a year on average, against 370 in the five years before.
Toby in the United Kingdom
Toby was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 13,904 births over the decade, 41% of all recorded babies named Toby. Half of all babies named Toby in the United Kingdom were born before 2011, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 789 births a year on average, against 1,263 in the five years before.
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Toby
Names from the same generation as Toby, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Toby? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Toby with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Toby side by side with the name of your choice.
Toby in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Toby mean?
Toby comes from Tobias, from the Hebrew Toviyyah, "Yahweh is good".
What is the origin of the name Toby?
Hebrew, through the Greek Tobias.
Is Toby a girl's or a boy's name?
Toby is a boy's name. In the United States, 19% of the babies named Toby are girls.
How popular is the name Toby?
In 2024, Toby was the 1101st most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 194 births.
What are the variants of the name Toby?
Variants and related names of Toby include Tobias.
What are good sibling names for Toby?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Anika, Simone, Annika and Deborah for a sister, Noé, Nathanael, Mike and Jon for a brother.
Who are famous people named Toby?
Toby Jones, actor; Toby Keith, country singer; Toby Stephens, actor.