Hobart
A boy's name of Germanic origin with 3,806 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
The capital city of Tasmania, Australia, named for a Lord Hobart.
Hobart is a boy's baby name of Germanic origin, a variant of Hubert, from the Old High German Hugiberht, combining hugo (heart, mind, spirit) and beraht (bright), meaning 'bright mind' or 'shining spirit.' It was also reinforced by the Hobart family surname in American use.
Hobart was used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Garret Hobart, the 24th Vice President of the United States (1897–1899), gave the name presidential-adjacent prestige in American history.
EtymologyShow more
Though Hobart dates back to 1885 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Germanic classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Hobart’s 3,806 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Hobart has 104+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1885.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 6 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 22 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 62 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 112 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 180 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 272 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 368 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 529 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 1,086 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 640 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 170 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 348 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 6 | — |
The Story of Hobart
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1921, Hobart is a name steeped in history. Boys named Hobart are most likely born between 1911 and 1931.
How rare is Hobart?
With 3,806 total births on record, Hobart remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1885, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 1,086 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Hobart by the numbers
- Would fill 79 school buses
- Meeting one Hobart per day would take 10.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(104 years, 1885–2023)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | #12927 |
| 2013 | 6 | #11242 |
| 1997 | 6 | #8563 |
| 1994 | 5 | #9356 |
| 1991 | 6 | #7634 |
| 1990 | 5 | #8625 |
| 1989 | 7 | #6488 |
| 1988 | 7 | #6027 |
| 1987 | 6 | #6412 |
| 1986 | 6 | #6240 |
| 1985 | 5 | #6942 |
| 1984 | 7 | #5187 |
| 1983 | 5 | #6662 |
| 1982 | 10 | #4058 |
| 1980 | 9 | #4278 |
| 1979 | 9 | #4197 |
| 1978 | 13 | #3124 |
| 1977 | 11 | #3468 |
| 1976 | 11 | #3358 |
| 1975 | 13 | #2974 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hobart a boy's or girl's name?
When was Hobart most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1885–2023