Robby is a name of English origin that is often used as a diminutive or nickname for Robert. It means "bright fame" and is derived from the Germanic name Hrodebert, which consists of the elements hrod, meaning "fame," and beraht, meaning "bright." The name has been in use since the Middle Ages, but it became particularly popular during the Victorian era.
Robby is a short form of Robert, which has been used as a given name for centuries. It was introduced to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and became widespread throughout Europe over time. Some famous people named Robert include Robert Burns, the Scottish poet; Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island; and Robert Kennedy, the American politician.
In addition to being a popular given name, Robby has also been used as a surname. It is believed to have originated from a occupational name for a robber or thief, derived from the Middle English word "robber." However, it is more likely that the surname Robby is an Americanized form of the German surname Rohrbach, which means "beer barrel maker."
Overall, Robby is a name with a rich history and meaningful origins. It has been used as both a given name and a surname throughout Europe and North America for centuries. Despite its diminutive nature, it remains a strong and distinctive name that carries a sense of brightness and fame.
The name Robby has been given to babies born in the United States for over a century, with the first recorded birth occurring in 1922. The popularity of the name varied greatly over time, ranging from as few as 6 births in some years to as many as 412 births in others.
During the early 1900s, Robby was given to an average of around 8 babies per year. However, starting in the mid-1950s, the popularity of the name began to rise significantly. Between 1956 and 1973, there were over 250 births each year on average, with peaks occurring in 1964 (412 births) and 1972 (388 births).
After reaching its peak popularity in the late 1960s to early 1970s, the number of babies named Robby began to decline steadily. Between 1974 and 2000, there were an average of around 50 births per year. Since then, the name has continued to lose popularity, with fewer than 30 births occurring each year on average.
Despite its declining popularity in recent years, Robby remains a classic and timeless name that has been given to thousands of babies over the past century. As of 2021, there have been a total of 10,517 births with the name Robby recorded in the United States alone.