Tobby is a unique and distinctive name of Hebrew origin. It means "God is good" in Hebrew, and it has been used as a boy's name for centuries. The name Tobby is derived from the Hebrew name Tobias, which appears in the biblical Book of Tobit.
The Book of Tobit tells the story of Tobias, a righteous man who is blind and poor but never loses his faith in God. His son, also named Tobias, embarks on a journey with the angel Raphael to retrieve money that was stolen from his father. Along the way, Tobias marries Sarah, whose seven previous husbands were all killed by an evil spirit on their wedding night.
Through the intercession of Raphael, Tobias is able to marry Sarah and live happily ever after. The name Tobby has been associated with this biblical story for centuries and has become a popular choice among families who appreciate its Hebrew origin and meaningful significance.
While the name Tobby may not be as common as some other boys' names, it remains a classic and timeless choice that carries a deep spiritual meaning. It is often given to boys who are expected to grow up to be kind, compassionate, and faithful individuals, much like the biblical Tobias himself.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Tobby has seen a varied level of popularity over the years in the United States. The first recorded birth with the name Tobby was in 1956, with five babies being named Tobby that year. This number then doubled by 1959 to ten births.
The popularity of the name Tobby fluctuated throughout the next few decades, with peaks and valleys in the number of annual births. For instance, there were 29 births in 1973, which was a significant jump from the previous year's 16 births. This trend continued into 1974 and 1975, with 32 and 24 births respectively.
However, the number of Tobby births began to decline after the mid-70s. By 1980, only ten babies were named Tobby, and this number continued to decrease throughout the following decades. The lowest point in recent years was recorded in 2015, with just five births.
Despite the fluctuations in popularity, over time, a total of 394 babies have been named Tobby in the United States since 1956. This demonstrates that while it may not have been one of the most popular names, Tobby has still been chosen by parents for their children over multiple generations.