Tobin is a name of Irish origin and means "little dark one." It is derived from the Irish word "tóban," which refers to a small dark creature or being. The name Tobin has been popular in Ireland for centuries, but it only began to gain significant attention outside of Ireland during the 20th century.
The name Tobin is believed to have originated as an affectionate nickname given to young boys with dark hair and features. Over time, this nickname became more widely used and eventually evolved into a proper given name. Today, Tobin is still considered a name of Irish origin but is also commonly used in other parts of the world.
In literature, one of the most famous characters named Tobin is Tobin Staymaker from C.S. Lewis' series "The Chronicles of Narnia." This character was likely named after the Tobin family, who were friends with C.S. Lewis and served as inspiration for some of his works.
Overall, Tobin is a unique and distinctive name with a rich history and meaningful origin. Whether you're looking for a name with Irish roots or simply want something different from the typical names on the popularity charts, Tobin could be an excellent choice.
The name Tobin has seen a varied level of popularity over the past few decades in the United States. It first appeared on the birth records in 1960 with six births that year. After a gap of twelve years, there were again six births named Tobin in 1973.
There was another period of fluctuating popularity, with five births each in 1975 and 1987, and then a spike to nine births in 2003. The year 2015 marked a significant uptick with fourteen births, followed by twenty-one births the next year in 2016.
However, this trend did not continue consistently. After peaking at twenty-one births in 2016, there was a decline to twelve births in 2017 and then six births in both 2018 and 2023. There were again twelve births in 2019, eleven in 2020, eighteen in 2021, and thirteen in 2022.
Overall, from 1960 to 2023, there have been a total of 161 babies named Tobin born in the United States. These statistics demonstrate that while the name Tobin has had periods of popularity, its overall usage has remained relatively stable over time.