Tobey is a name of English origin, derived from the medieval personal name "Toby," which was a diminutive of "Theobald." Theobald is a Germanic name composed of the elements "þeod" meaning people or tribe, and "bald" meaning bold or brave. Therefore, Tobey means "bold among the people."
The name Tobey gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th century, possibly due to its use by actor Tobey Maguire, who was born with the full name Tobias Vincent Maguire. The character of Peter Parker's best friend, Toby Gibson, in the Spider-Man comic books may also have contributed to the name's rise in popularity.
Prior to the 20th century, Tobey was rarely used as a given name. It was more often employed as a nickname for individuals named Theodore or other similar names with "Theobald" as their root. However, since the mid-20th century, Tobey has been used independently as a given name in its own right.
In literature, Tobey is the protagonist of the children's novel "Toby Tyler" by Arthur Scott Bailey, published in 1917. The story follows Toby's adventures with his pet bear, Mr. Stubbs, and his life as an animal trainer in a circus.
Overall, Tobey is a unique and distinctive name with a rich history and a meaning that signifies bravery and strength among one's community or tribe. While it may not be as widely used as some other names, its unusualness can make it appealing to parents looking for something different for their child.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Tobey has seen varying levels of popularity among parents in the United States over the past century.
Starting from the 1920s, there were consistently low numbers of births with the name Tobey each year, ranging between 5 to 10 births annually until the late 1940s. However, during the 1950s and early 1960s, we begin to see a steady increase in the number of newborns named Tobey, peaking at 20 births in both 1963 and 1968.
The trend continued through the late 1960s and into the 1970s, with Tobey being given to around 20 to 50 babies each year. The name reached its zenith in popularity during this period, particularly between 1973 and 1976 when it was among the top 500 most popular baby names for boys.
However, as we entered the 1980s, the number of newborns named Tobey began to decline. By 1982, there were only 8 births with this name, and it continued to fluctuate between 8 and 25 births annually throughout most of the decade.
The trend of inconsistency persisted into the 1990s, with Tobey being given to around 9 to 14 babies each year. It wasn't until the late 1990s that we began to see another rise in popularity for the name, culminating in a high of 50 births in 2002.
Since then, there has been a steady decline in the number of newborns named Tobey. Between 2006 and 2023, the annual birth count has varied between just 6 to 14 babies each year.
In conclusion, while the name Tobey has had periods of popularity over the years, it has not consistently been among the most common baby names in the United States. Nevertheless, its usage has remained consistent enough that there are now a total of 1,681 individuals named Tobey living in the U.S., according to these statistics.