Skip to content
Name Lineage

    The first name Toby

    A unisex name from Hebrew.

    Pronounced /ˈtoʊbi/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Hebrew origin

    The Middle English vernacular form of Tobias.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 600 boys were named Toby, making it the 89th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2007, with 1,477 births (#52).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    33,312
    babies named Toby, 1996–2025
    #89
    rank in 2025
    2007
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Toby at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 234 boys born in the United States were named Toby, the 979th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1975, when 1,191 were.

    01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    43,233
    babies named Toby since 1880
    #979
    rank in 2025
    1975
    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

    Nicknames for Toby

    • Tobe

    Famous people named Toby

    36 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Toby Alderweireld
      Belgian association football player (born 1989)
    • Toby Fox
      American video game designer and composer (born 1991)
    • Toby Keith
      American country music singer and actor (1961–2024)
    • Toby Kebbell
      British actor, born 1982
    • Toby Stephens
      British actor, born 1969
    • Toby Huss
      American actor, born 1966
    • TobyMac
      American Christian rapper and singer, born 1964
    • Toby Leonard Moore
      Australian actor, born 1981
    • Toby Wing
      American actress and showgirl (1915-2001)
    • Toby Collyer
      English footballer (born 2004)
    • Toby Roberts
      British rock climber, born 2005
    • Toby Sebastian
      British actor and musician, born 1992

    More Hebrew unisex names

    All 346 names of Hebrew origin

    Questions

    What does the name Toby mean?
    The Middle English vernacular form of Tobias.
    What is the origin of the name Toby?
    The Middle English vernacular form of Tobias.
    How popular is the name Toby?
    In 2025, 600 boys born in England and Wales were named Toby, ranking 89th. Its peak was 2007, with 1,477 births.
    What are nicknames for Toby?
    Common nicknames for Toby include Tobe.
    Is Toby a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 43,233 US babies named Toby since 1880, 19% were girls and 81% boys.
    When was Toby most popular?
    1975 in the United States, when 1,191 babies were named Toby, its highest rank at 190th.
    How do you pronounce Toby?
    Toby is /ˈtoʊbi/, 2 syllables.
    Is Toby also a surname?
    Yes. Toby is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.