Bob Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Bob originates from Old English as a diminutive form of Robert, which means 'bright fame'. The name has evolved through historical forms like Robert and Rob. It has traits of friendliness and approachability, and it has no direct biblical relevance. Bob gained popularity in the 19th century and remains well-liked today.
The name Bob is most popular in Wyoming, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Bob has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Bob' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 172nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 94th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 169th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 455th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1413th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4706th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7093rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4292nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3052nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6475th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 13377th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Bob' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Bob"
Pronunciation
/bɒb/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
Bob is a diminutive of the name Robert, which itself comes from the Old High German 'Hrodebert', meaning 'bright fame'.
Meaning
bright fame
Language Evolution
Robert, Rob, Bob
Historical Usage
The name Bob gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the 19th century as a common nickname for Robert.
Variants & Derivatives
Robert, Rob, Bobby
Modern Popularity & Image
Bob is perceived as a friendly, approachable name and remains popular in various cultures, often associated with simplicity and familiarity.
Famous People
Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Bob Hope, Bob Ross
Explore More Bob Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Bob"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Bob"
"Bob" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 172nd of 7545 | 12,756 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 94th of 6773 | 40,432 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 169th of 7552 | 31,999 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 455th of 10718 | 5,214 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1413th of 16616 | 942 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4706th of 24088 | 285 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7093rd of 23106 | 135 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4292nd of 9107 | 79 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3052nd of 9204 | 161 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 6475th of 12526 | 62 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 13377th of 19264 | 20 |
Regional Popularity of "Bob" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
10.59% 150th/1416 |
26.47% 365th/1379 |
8.24% 195th/2366 |
7.01% 80th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
4.72% 73rd/1546 |
11.57% 180th/1556 |
5.18% 122nd/2353 |
2.59% 40th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
5.79% 129th/2227 |
8.56% 208th/2430 |
8.55% 244th/2853 |
4.36% 121st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
11.61% 341st/2937 |
16.08% 560th/3483 |
16.52% 581st/3518 |
9.22% 373rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
42.25% 1557th/3685 |
40.63% 1818th/4475 |
30.28% 1573rd/5194 |
20.14% 1272nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
60.11% 4396th/7313 |
44.45% 3317th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
56.56% 3550th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Bob" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Bob"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Bob" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.