Toby is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is good." It is derived from the Aramaic name Tobiah, which was used by several characters in the Old Testament of the Bible. The most famous Tobyah was the enemy of Nehemiah, who was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
The name Toby has been popular throughout history and across different cultures. It was used by several prominent historical figures, such as Toby Philpot, an English actor and comedian who was a member of the famous comedy troupe Monty Python, and Toby McGuire, an American film actor and director who is best known for his role as Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Today, Toby remains a popular name for boys. It is often used as a nickname for the name Tobias or other names that begin with the sound "tob." The name has also been popularized by various characters in popular culture, such as Toby McTeague from the novel "The Stories of Tobias Smollett" and Toby Ziegler from the television show "The West Wing."
Overall, the name Toby is a classic choice with a rich history and meaningful signification. Its Hebrew origin and biblical associations give it a sense of timelessness, while its popularity throughout different cultures and time periods demonstrates its enduring appeal.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Toby in the United States, we can observe several trends and patterns over time.
From the early 1900s to the mid-1930s, the number of births with the name Toby remained relatively low, fluctuating between 5 and 101 births per year. However, starting from the late 1930s, there was a notable increase in the popularity of the name Toby. Between 1936 and 1942, the number of births with this name rose significantly, reaching a peak of 170 births in 1941.
The popularity of Toby continued to grow throughout the 1940s and 1950s, although there were some fluctuations. The highest number of births recorded during this period was 158 births in 1975. However, from the late 1970s onwards, there was a decline in the popularity of Toby as a baby name.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of the name Toby. Between 2000 and 2023, the number of births with this name ranged from 51 to 97 per year, indicating that it remains a popular choice for parents today.
Overall, based on these statistics, we can see that the name Toby has experienced periods of both high and low popularity in the United States. Despite fluctuations over time, Toby has consistently remained a recognizable and enduring name choice among American parents.