Toby Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Toby is a name of Hebrew origin meaning 'God is good.' It evolved from Tobiah through Tobias to its modern form. The name has biblical significance, particularly from the Book of Tobit. Today, it is seen as a warm and friendly name, with notable figures contributing to its popularity.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Toby"
Pronunciation
/ˈtoʊbi/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Toby is derived from the Hebrew name 'Tobiah,' which means 'God is good.' The name has evolved through various cultural contexts, primarily within Jewish communities.
Meaning
God is good
Language Evolution
Tobiah, Tobias, Toby
Biblical Background
Toby has biblical roots, being a derivative of Tobias, a name found in the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament.
Historical Usage
The name Toby gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the 20th century, often used as a diminutive of Tobias.
Variants & Derivatives
Tobias, Tobiah, Tobes
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Toby is perceived as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and loyalty.
Famous People
Toby Keith, Toby McGuire, Toby Jones
📊 Toby Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Toby Name Visualizations
✨ Toby Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 1,349 peak births in 1975
Geographic Spread
Popular across 49 US states, with strongest presence in New Mexico
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Toby" - Complete Guide (8 Names)
Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Toby". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 8 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.
Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Toby" that fits your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Toby"
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 "Toby"
"Toby" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1485th of 7545 | 391 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 762nd of 6773 | 1,234 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 489th of 7552 | 4,483 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 262nd of 10718 | 13,092 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 527th of 16616 | 5,218 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 560th of 24088 | 6,876 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 835th of 23106 | 3,292 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1249th of 9107 | 664 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 695th of 9204 | 1,906 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1047th of 12526 | 1,829 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1320th of 19264 | 1,348 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2753rd of 27321 | 644 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2844th of 35406 | 907 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2257th of 30306 | 986 |
Regional Popularity of "Toby" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
86.58% 1194th/1379 |
89.64% 2121st/2366 |
73.29% 837th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
42.82% 662nd/1546 |
55.08% 857th/1556 |
40.33% 949th/2353 |
27.54% 426th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
19.94% 444th/2227 |
24.98% 607th/2430 |
18.33% 523rd/2853 |
14.31% 397th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
7.87% 231st/2937 |
9.56% 333rd/3483 |
6.94% 244th/3518 |
6.50% 263rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
13.16% 485th/3685 |
14.99% 671st/4475 |
9.41% 489th/5194 |
8.85% 559th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
11.09% 508th/4582 |
12.70% 656th/5164 |
7.55% 552nd/7313 |
7.60% 567th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
18.35% 731st/3984 |
19.43% 872nd/4487 |
13.46% 918th/6822 |
13.22% 830th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Toby" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
74.58% 1056th/1416 |
36.69% 506th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
43.73% 676th/1546 |
22.43% 349th/1556 |
54.99% 1294th/2353 |
62.12% 961st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
50.88% 1133rd/2227 |
23.87% 580th/2430 |
64.46% 1839th/2853 |
46.95% 1303rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
50.19% 1474th/2937 |
25.15% 876th/3483 |
46.82% 1647th/3518 |
40.58% 1641st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
22.28% 997th/4475 |
- |
100.00% 6317th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
15.10% 780th/5164 |
- | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
12.68% 569th/4487 |
- | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Toby"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Toby" 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.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Toby" in the United States
The name Toby is most popular in New Mexico, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the South 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, Toby has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Toby' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1485th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 762nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 489th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 262nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 527th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 560th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 835th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1249th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 695th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1047th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1320th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2753rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2844th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2257th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Toby' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.