Koby is almost certainly an alternate spelling of Kobe — a name that carries an enormous amount of basketball-shaped cultural weight after Kobe Bryant's twenty-year career with the Lakers. The "y" ending softens it slightly and gives it a slightly more informal feel, which may explain why some owners prefer this spelling for a pet name versus the more famous standard.
The Kobe Legacy
Naming a male dog Kobe (in any spelling) has been a statement of Lakers fandom and athletic admiration since the late 1990s. After Kobe Bryant's death in 2020, the name gained an additional memorial dimension — some pets named Kobe or Koby in the years since were named as a form of tribute. Rottweilers and American Pit Bull Terriers show up with this name at above-average rates, which tracks with the name's association with power and athletic capability.
The Spelling Variation Note
Koby and Kobe are functionally the same spoken name. The alternate spelling isn't widely recognized as a distinct name with its own origin — it's primarily a personalization choice. Anyone encountering "Koby" in text will likely assume Kobe and may automatically use the more common spelling.
Counter-Read
The Kobe Bryant association is strong enough that this name implicitly references him regardless of owner intent. If you want the same strong, short male name without that cultural anchor, Koda or Kona offer nearby alternatives on the pet names directory.