Tobey is a boy's name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is good." It is derived from the Hebrew name Toviy, which in turn comes from the Hebrew word tov, meaning "good." In the Bible, Tobit is the father of Tobias, who is the protagonist of the Book of Tobit. The name Tobey has gained popularity in recent years, likely due to its similarity to other popular names like Toby and Toby Maguire, an American actor known for his role as Spider-Man in the Sam Raimi trilogy.
The name Tobey has a fascinating history of popularity in the United States over the past century. The first recorded birth with this name occurred in 1914, with six newborns bearing it that year. After a brief dip in popularity between 1937 and 1946, where fewer than ten births were recorded annually, Tobey's popularity began to rise significantly from the late 1940s onwards.
In 1947 alone, there were twelve births registered with this name, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. This trend continued into the early 1950s, reaching its peak during this decade with thirteen births recorded in 1952.
However, it seems that Tobey's popularity fluctuated greatly throughout the following decades. While there were nineteen births recorded in 1963 and twenty-six in 1964, the number dropped to nine in 1967. Nevertheless, the late 1960s and early 1970s saw another surge in popularity for this name, with thirty-two births registered in 1972 alone.
This pattern of fluctuating popularity continued throughout the remainder of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century. Despite a few peaks here and there - such as forty-seven births recorded in 1974 and fifty-three in 1975 - Tobey's overall popularity began to decline gradually over time.
By the early 2000s, fewer than ten births were registered annually with this name. The most recent data available shows that there were only five births recorded with Tobey as the given name in 2005.
In total, according to these statistics, there have been 758 babies born with the name Tobey in the United States since records began. Despite its ups and downs over time, it's clear that this distinctive name has left its mark on American naming trends throughout history.