Bobby is a name of English origin, derived from the given name Robert. It is a diminutive form of Robert, which means "bright" or "famous" in Old German. The name has been used throughout history and has been popularized by various notable figures.
The name Bobby first gained prominence during the Middle Ages when it was commonly used as a nickname for those with the given name Robert. It was often used to indicate familiarity or fondness towards someone named Robert.
Bobby also has ties to American culture, particularly through its association with baseball legend Babe Ruth, whose real name was George Herman Ruth Jr., but who was famously known by his nickname "Babe" and his family nickname of "Bobby." The use of Bobby as a given name became more popular in the United States during the early 20th century due to Babe Ruth's fame.
Today, Bobby is still used as both a nickname for Robert and as a given name in its own right. It remains a popular choice among parents looking for a classic yet friendly-sounding name for their sons.
Based on the statistics provided, we can see that the name Bobby has had a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past century.
The name first started to gain traction around 1910, with 16 births recorded in that year. This was followed by an increase to 24 births in 1915 and 31 births in 1916. The name continued to rise in popularity throughout the 1920s, peaking at 262 births in 1930.
However, after this high point, the popularity of the name Bobby began to decline. By 1940, there were only 149 births recorded, and this trend continued into the 1950s and 1960s, with fewer than 150 births per year.
The name experienced a brief resurgence in popularity during the late 1960s and early 1970s, with over 100 births recorded each year between 1968 and 1974. However, this was short-lived, and by the mid-1980s, the name had fallen out of favor once again.
In recent years, the name Bobby has remained relatively uncommon, with fewer than 50 births recorded per year since 2003. Despite this, it is still possible that the name could experience a resurgence in popularity in the future, as names often go through cycles of popularity over time.
Overall, while the name Bobby has had its ups and downs in terms of popularity over the past century, it remains a classic choice that has been given to thousands of babies in the United States.