Skip to content
Name Lineage

    The first name Bobby

    A boy’s name.

    Pronounced /ˈbɑbi/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    From Bob + -y.

    Bobby is a short form of

    .

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 544 boys were named Bobby, making it the 94th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2012, with 1,186 births (#57).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    17,613
    babies named Bobby, 1996–2025
    #94
    rank in 2025
    2012
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Bobby with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Bobby at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 195 boys born in the United States were named Bobby, the 1,097th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1937, when 7,745 were.

    04,0008,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    324,728
    babies named Bobby since 1880
    #1,097
    rank in 2025
    1937
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Bobby

    154 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Bobby Charlton
      English association football player and manager (1937–2023)
    • Bobby Robson
      English association football player and manager (1933-2009)
    • Bobby Moore
      English association football player (1941–1993)
    • Bobby Cannavale
      American actor (born 1970)
    • Bobby Farrell
      Dutch dancer and singer (1949–2010)
    • Bobby Jindal
      American politician and 55th governor of Louisiana (born 1971)
    • Bobby Morrow
      American sprinter (1935–2020)
    • Bobby Brown
      American R&B singer (born 1969)
    • Bobby Orr
      Canadian ice hockey player, born 1948
    • Bobby Hull
      Canadian ice hockey player (1939–2023)
    • Bobby Lashley
      American professional wrestler and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, born 1976
    • Bobby Lee
      American stand-up comedian, born 1971

    Questions

    What does the name Bobby mean?
    From Bob + -y.
    How popular is the name Bobby?
    In 2025, 544 boys born in England and Wales were named Bobby, ranking 94th. Its peak was 2012, with 1,186 births.
    Is Bobby a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 97% of the 324,728 US babies named Bobby since 1880 were boys.
    When was Bobby most popular?
    1937 in the United States, when 7,745 babies were named Bobby, its highest rank at 24th.
    How do you pronounce Bobby?
    Bobby is /ˈbɑbi/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Bobby?
    Bobbie and Bobbi.
    Is Bobby also a surname?
    Yes. Bobby is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.