Meaning & Origin
A rare surname.
Bilbo is a boy's baby name that achieved its greatest recognition through J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (1937), where Bilbo Baggins is the beloved, adventure-averse hobbit who becomes an unlikely hero. Tolkien may have derived the name from the Old English or from Bilbao, the Basque city known for its 'bilbo' — a type of rapier sword.
Naming a child Bilbo is a bold declaration of Tolkien devotion. The character is warm, courageous, literary, and beloved — qualities that any parent would happily wish for their child, even if the name guarantees lifelong conversation about second breakfast.