Kirby

An uncommon Old Norse pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld NorseDeclining Also a pet name
#2578 179in 2024

Meaning & Origin

An English placename. A hamlet in Clarington municipality, Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario, Canada. A number of places in the United States: An unincorporated census-designated place in Pike County, Arkansas. An unincorporated community in Van Buren Township, Monroe County, Indiana. An unincorporated community in Shelby County, Missouri. A former unincorporated community in Big Horn County, Montana. A village in Wyandot County, Ohio. A city in Bexar County, Texas. A town in Caledonia County, Vermont. An unincorporated community in Hampshire County, West Virginia. An unincorporated community in Monroe County, Wisconsin. A town in Hot Springs County, Wyoming.

Kirby is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old Norse origin, from an English place name meaning 'settlement by the church,' from the Norse kirkja ('church') and by ('village'). While traditionally masculine, Kirby has shifted toward girls' names in recent years — aided by the beloved Nintendo character Kirby, the pink puffball hero of his own video game series.

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Popularity Over Time

Kirby was #2010 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2578, but its charm endures.

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Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Kirby
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s234
2010s471
2000s596
1990s1,408
1980s1,338
1970s1,589
1960s2,352
1950s3,009
1940s1,509
1930s731
1920s620
1910s403
1900s88
1890s93
1880s56

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(142 years, 18812024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Kirby
YearBirthsRank
202452#2578
202347#2757
202244#2893
202139#3097
202052#2488
201943#2881
201851#2531
201745#2740
201644#2746
201555#2377
201440#2912
201344#2689
201248#2575
201151#2461
201050#2491
200947#2643
200849#2566
200764#2127
200653#2366
200550#2350

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

Kirby as a Girl's Name

Though more common for boys, Kirby has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 3,898 births since 1917.

#2539
Current rank
3,898
Total births
1984
Peak year
Compare Kirby as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Kirby be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Kirby is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #2578. As a girl's name, it ranks #2539.

Kirby has two lives

Kirby, the baby name
#2578boys
14,497 babies
Currently viewing
Kirby, the pet name
#542pet name
230 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18812024) · Methodology