The first name Digby
A boy’s name from English meaning “dyke”, “settlement”.
Pronounced /ˈdɪɡ.bi/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Digby means “dyke”, “settlement” in English.
From Old English dīc (“dyke”) + Old Norse býr (“settlement”). The town in Nova Scotia is named after admiral Robert Digby (1732 - 1815).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 21 boys were named Digby, making it the 1,307th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2020, with 38 births (#812).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Digby with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Digby at birth, 1880–2025
In 2009, 5 boys born in the United States were named Digby, the 12,976th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2006, when 6 were.
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.
Famous people named Digby
1 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Digby Tatham-WarterBritish military personnel, 1917–1993
More English boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Digby mean?
- Digby means “dyke”, “settlement” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Digby?
- From Old English dīc (“dyke”) + Old Norse býr (“settlement”). The town in Nova Scotia is named after admiral Robert Digby (1732 - 1815).
- How popular is the name Digby?
- In 2025, 21 boys born in England and Wales were named Digby, ranking 1,307th. Its peak was 2020, with 38 births.
- When was Digby most popular?
- 2006 in the United States, when 6 babies were named Digby, its highest rank at 11,013th.
- How do you pronounce Digby?
- Digby is /ˈdɪɡ.bi/, 2 syllables.
- Is Digby also a surname?
- Yes. Digby is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.