Tobi is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is good". It is a shortened form of the Hebrew name Tobias, which appears in the biblical Book of Tobit. In this story, Tobias is a devoted son who demonstrates great faith and courage.
The name Tobi has been popular among Jews for centuries, but it gained wider recognition in recent years due to its use by celebrities like Tobi Lou, an American rapper, and Tobi Adebayo, a British actor.
Despite its Hebrew origin, Tobi is used as both a male and female name. In some cultures, such as the Yoruba culture of Nigeria, Tobi is considered a unisex name that means "God's promise".
In terms of its history, the name Tobias has been around since ancient times, appearing in various forms across different languages and cultures. The Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, translates Tobias as "the good of God". In Latin, it becomes Tobias, while in English, it is often shortened to Toby or Tobi.
Overall, Tobi is a name with deep historical roots and a meaningful significance that has transcended cultural boundaries over time.
The name Tobi has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 574 babies given this name since 1966. The highest year for births with the name Tobi was in 2023, with 36 newborns sharing the name. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, which saw 29 births. The popularity of the name Tobi has been on an upward trend since 2014, when there were only 24 births recorded.
The years with the lowest number of births for the name Tobi were in 1966 and 1981, each with only 7 births recorded. There was also a notable dip in popularity between 1989 and 1991, with only 5 births each year during this period.
Despite these fluctuations, it's clear that the name Tobi has maintained a consistent presence in the United States over the past several decades. With its recent surge in popularity, it will be interesting to see how the trend continues in the coming years.