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    The first name Colby

    A boy’s name meaning “charcoal”, “settlement”.

    Pronounced /ˈkoʊl.bi/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Colby means “charcoal”, “settlement”.

    From either the Old Norse personal name Koli or kol (“charcoal”) + býr (“settlement”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 222 boys were named Colby, making it the 224th most popular boys’ name.

    0150300 1996200020052010201520202025
    2,573
    babies named Colby, 1996–2025
    #224
    rank in 2025
    2025
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Colby at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 455 boys born in the United States were named Colby, the 615th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2001, when 3,859 were.

    02,0004,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    58,155
    babies named Colby since 1880
    #615
    rank in 2025
    2001
    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 Colby

    15 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Colby O'Donis
      American singer, born 1989
    • Colby Minifie
      American actress, born 1992
    • Colby Stevenson
      American freestyle skier, born 1997
    • Colby Covington
      American mixed martial artist (born 1988)
    • Colby Cave
      Canadian ice hockey player, 1994–2020
    • Colby Slater
      American rugby union player (1896-1965)
    • Colby Armstrong
      Canadian ice hockey player, born 1982
    • Colby Lewis
      American baseball player, born 1979
    • Person Colby Cheney
      American politician (1828–1901)
    • Colby Pearce
      American cyclist, born 1972
    • Colby Rasmus
      American baseball player (born 1986)
    • Colby Jones
      American basketball player (born 2002)

    Questions

    What does the name Colby mean?
    Colby means “charcoal”, “settlement”.
    How popular is the name Colby?
    In 2025, 222 boys born in England and Wales were named Colby, ranking 224th.
    Is Colby a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 58,155 US babies named Colby since 1880, 7% were girls and 93% boys.
    When was Colby most popular?
    2001 in the United States, when 3,859 babies were named Colby, its highest rank at 99th.
    How do you pronounce Colby?
    Colby is /ˈkoʊl.bi/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Colby?
    Colbie.
    Is Colby also a surname?
    Yes. Colby is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.