Toby is a name of Hebrew origin and it means "God is good". It is a diminutive form of the biblical name Tobias. In the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament, Tobias was the son of the virtuous Tobit. The name Toby has been popular for centuries, especially among English-speaking countries.
The name Toby first appeared in England during the Middle Ages, but it became more widespread during the Victorian era. It was often used as a nickname or pet form for boys named Thomas, Tobias, or other names beginning with the letter "T". Today, Toby is considered a given name in its own right and is quite popular among parents.
In literature, Toby has been used as a character name in several notable works, including Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations" and Mark Twain's short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". These literary references may have contributed to the popularity of the name Toby over time.
Overall, Toby is a name with a long history and a meaningful meaning. It has been worn by individuals from various backgrounds throughout the centuries and continues to be a popular choice among parents today.
The name Toby has seen a significant rise in popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 34,411 births recorded between 1882 and 2023. While it started off relatively slowly, with only 5 births in both 1882 and 1885, it began to gain traction in the early 1900s.
The first notable peak occurred in the mid-1910s, with 27 births in 1915, followed by another peak in the late 1930s, reaching a high of 77 births in 1940. However, it was not until the late 1950s and early 1960s that Toby truly started to become a popular name, with over 200 births each year from 1956 onwards.
The peak of popularity for the name Toby came in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with a staggering 1,191 births recorded in 1975. This trend continued throughout the 1970s, although there was a slight dip in popularity towards the end of the decade.
The name Toby remained relatively popular throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, with around 300-400 births each year. However, it began to decline in popularity after that point, dropping below 200 births per year by the late 1990s.
Despite this decrease in popularity, Toby has continued to be used as a baby name in recent years, with around 150-200 births recorded annually between 2010 and 2023. This indicates that while it may not be as popular as it once was, the name Toby is still considered by many parents to be a suitable choice for their child.
Overall, the statistics show that Toby has had a varied but ultimately successful run in terms of popularity as a baby name in the United States over the past century and a half. While it may not currently be one of the most popular names, its enduring presence on the list of baby names demonstrates its continued appeal to parents.