Toby
How to say it: TOH-bee · /ˈtoʊbi/
Short form of Tobias, from Hebrew Tuviyah meaning 'God is good'.
Toby was the 885th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 335 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1970s, its births are down about 25% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #957 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #885 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 335 |
| Share of births | 1 in 9,896 |
| Peak decade | 1970s |
| Change over 10 years | −25% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #957 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Familiar for decades, Toby saw its greatest strength in the 1970s. It has since fallen far below that level and looks set to fade a bit more.
What goes with it
Bright and crisp with a friendly biblical heritage. Alfie and Teddy carry the same cheerful energy.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Toby is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, German, Hebrew.
England and Wales: #89. Ireland: #347.
Famous people named Toby
- Toby Alderweireld (born 1989)Belgian association football player
- Toby Fox (born 1991)American video game designer and composer
- Toby Wing (1915–2001)American actress and showgirl
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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