Is Bobby a boy's or girl's name?

Bobby is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 9,663 recorded births.

When was Bobby most popular?

Bobby reached its peak popularity in 1937 with 7,745 births that year. It is currently ranked #1123 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Bobby?

Bobby is currently ranked #1123 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 314,848 babies since 1900.

Bobby

A Germanic name gently fading from the charts.

Boy's name| Also girlsGermanicDeclining Also a pet name

#1123▲ 68in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the male given name Robert.

Bobby is a boy's and girl's baby name of Germanic origin, a diminutive of Robert — from the Old High German Hrodebert, combining hrod ("fame") and beraht ("bright"), meaning "bright fame." Bobby became a classic American informal given name in the early 20th century.

Bobby ranked in the top 15 U.S. boys' names through the 1930s and 1940s. Bobby Kennedy, Bobby Fischer, and Bobby Orr give the name both political weight and athletic grit. It's one of those names that sounds instantly friendly — the kind that ages well without ever feeling too small.

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Popularity Over Time

Bobby was #451 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1123, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Bobby
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,055	#1044	▼
2010s	3,279	#735	▼
2000s	5,708	#463	▼
1990s	11,384	#265	▼
1980s	22,025	#133	▼
1970s	29,078	#95	▼
1960s	46,388	#78	▼
1950s	53,282	#74	—
1940s	58,890	#50	▼
1930s	69,416	#28	▲
1920s	13,879	#205	▲
1910s	411	#983	▲
1900s	53	#1050	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(122 years, 1900–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Bobby
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	189	#1123	+20 (11.8%)
2023	169	#1191	-45 (-21.0%)
2022	214	#1033	-1 (-0.5%)
2021	215	#1023	-53 (-19.8%)
2020	268	#849	+18 (7.2%)
2019	250	#880	-22 (-8.1%)
2018	272	#822	-26 (-8.7%)
2017	298	#786	-24 (-7.5%)
2016	322	#754	-6 (-1.8%)
2015	328	#740	+15 (4.8%)
2014	313	#754	-50 (-13.8%)
2013	363	#665	+32 (9.7%)
2012	331	#714	-14 (-4.1%)
2011	345	#683	-112 (-24.5%)
2010	457	#552	-1 (-0.2%)
2009	458	#576	-57 (-11.1%)
2008	515	#524	-8 (-1.5%)
2007	523	#503	-23 (-4.2%)
2006	546	#483	+41 (8.1%)
2005	505	#490	-68 (-11.9%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Bobby as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Bobby has also been given to 9,663 girls in the U.S. since 1900.

#10377

Current rank

9,663

Total births

1930

Peak year

Compare Bobby as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Bobby be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Bobby is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1123. As a girl's name, it ranks #10377.

Bobby has two lives

Bobby, the baby name

#1123boys

314,848 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1900–2024) · Methodology