Bobby is a name of English origin, derived from the Germanic given name Robert. The name Robert has a long and distinguished history, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is composed of two Germanic elements: "hrod" meaning "fame" or "renown," and "bern" meaning "bear." Therefore, the name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous like a bear."
The name Bobby is a diminutive form of Robert, used as both a given name and a nickname. It gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in England and Ireland. In some cases, Bobby was also used as a surname, often derived from a pet form of the given name.
One notable figure associated with the name Bobby is Sir Robert Abel Smith (1873-1954), who served as the British High Commissioner to Egypt during World War II. Another famous bearer of the name is Bobby Moore (1941-1993), an English footballer and captain of the 1966 England World Cup-winning team.
While Bobby is not typically associated with any specific festivals or traits of character, it has been popular among parents for generations due to its classic sound and strong ties to English history. Today, it continues to be a beloved name choice around the world.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Bobby over the years in the United States:
From 1900 to 1924, the number of births with the name Bobby fluctuated between 7 and 7736. The trend started to decline after reaching a peak of 7736 births in 1937.
The highest popularity of the name Bobby was seen during the late 1920s to early 1930s, with over 7500 births each year from 1924 to 1937. This period represents a significant peak compared to other years.
From 1938 onwards, the popularity of the name Bobby started to decrease. It's worth noting that the total number of births in the U.S. also decreased during this time period. However, despite the overall decline in birth rates, the name Bobby maintained some popularity throughout the following decades.
Between 1940 and 1965, there were consistently around 4000 to 5000 births per year with the name Bobby. This demonstrates a stable level of popularity during this period despite the overall decline in birth rates.
After 1970, the popularity of the name Bobby continued to decrease, reaching under 3000 births per year. Since then, it has remained relatively consistent at around 2500 to 3500 births each year until the early 2000s.
In recent years, from 2001 onwards, there has been a further decline in the popularity of the name Bobby. The number of births with this name dropped below 600 per year after 2007 and continued to decrease, reaching as low as 167 births in 2023.
Overall, while the name Bobby was quite popular in the early to mid-20th century, its popularity has significantly declined in recent decades. Despite this decline, it remains a classic name with historical significance.