Hoby

A boy's name of Germanic origin with 85 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A village in Hoby with Rotherby parish, Melton borough, Leicestershire, England .

Hoby is a boy's baby name, a diminutive of Hobart (Germanic, 'bright heart') or from the English village of Hoby in Leicestershire. It has a friendly, informal quality.

Hoby is bright-hearted and approachable — a name of English countryside warmth.

EtymologyShow more

In the American context, Hoby is a boy's name with several decades of recorded use (1958–1990). Its Germanic roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.

With 85 total births, Hoby exists at the edges of the American naming landscape — a name known primarily to the families who carry it, giving it an intensely personal character.

At a Glance

Total births

Since 1958

1958

Peak

30 births

1958

First recorded

33 years of data

Compare Hoby with another name

Popularity Over Time

Hoby has 7+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1958.

First appeared: 1958Peak: 1958 (30 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Hoby
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
1990s	5	#8626	▼
1960s	35	#3262	▼
1950s	45	#1793	—

The Story of Hoby

A Baby Boomer name

Peaking in 1958, Hoby is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Hoby are most likely born between 1958 and 1968.

How rare is Hoby?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Hoby is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1958, peaked in the 1950s with 45 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Hoby by the numbers

Would fill 2 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(7 years, 1958–1990)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Hoby
Year	Births	Rank	Change
1990	5	#8626	0
1963	5	#4295	-8 (-61.5%)
1962	13	#2311	+2 (18.2%)
1961	11	#2617	+5 (83.3%)
1960	6	#3823	-9 (-60.0%)
1959	15	#2152	-15 (-50.0%)
1958	30	#1433	—

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Hoby is primarily a boy's name.

When was Hoby most popular?

Hoby reached its peak popularity in 1958 with 30 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Hoby?

Hoby is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 85 babies in the U.S. since 1958. Its peak was in 1958.

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1958–1990