Kerby
Primarily a boy's name of Old Norse origin with 879 recorded births. Also given to 122 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Kerby is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, a variant of Kirby — from the Old Norse kirkju-byr meaning 'settlement by the church' (from kirkja, church, and by, settlement).
Kirby is an English surname with Viking-era roots, used as a given name particularly in the United States. Kerby's spelling variant gives it a slightly more Southern American character. With nearly 900 recorded U.S. births, it has genuine historical presence.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Kerby is rooted in the Old Norse tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1942 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Kerby’s 879 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kerby was #7893 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #11654, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17 | #12143 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 28 | #12206 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 88 | #7514 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 133 | #4765 | — |
| 1980s | 134 | #3337 | — |
| 1970s | 147 | #2923 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 172 | #2045 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 129 | #2429 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 31 | #2932 | — |
The Story of Kerby
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1961, Kerby is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Kerby are most likely born between 1951 and 1971.
How rare is Kerby?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Kerby — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1942, peaked in the 1960s with 172 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Kerby by the numbers
- Would fill 18 school buses
- Meeting one Kerby per day would take 2.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(70 years, 1942–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #11654 |
| 2022 | 6 | #11630 |
| 2020 | 5 | #13145 |
| 2017 | 5 | #13316 |
| 2015 | 5 | #13112 |
| 2013 | 6 | #11499 |
| 2012 | 6 | #11575 |
| 2010 | 6 | #11530 |
| 2009 | 9 | #8696 |
| 2007 | 8 | #9363 |
| 2006 | 10 | #7750 |
| 2005 | 9 | #8015 |
| 2004 | 9 | #7893 |
| 2003 | 12 | #6074 |
| 2002 | 9 | #7366 |
| 2001 | 12 | #5867 |
| 2000 | 10 | #6598 |
| 1999 | 11 | #5869 |
| 1998 | 11 | #5667 |
| 1997 | 10 | #5889 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Kerby as a Girl's Name
Though more common for boys, Kerby has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 122 births since 1983.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kerby a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kerby most popular?
How popular is the name Kerby?
Can Kerby be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1942–2024