Bobby Boy

Popularity: #744 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BAH-bee //ˈbɒbi//

Origin: English; diminutive of Robert

Meaning: Bright fame; shining fame

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Bobby is derived from the name Robert, which has its roots in the Old High German name Hrodebert, composed of the elements 'hrod' meaning 'fame' and 'beraht' meaning 'bright' or 'shining.' This name was introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century, evolving through various forms such as Robertus in Latin and Robert in Old French before becoming Robert in Middle English. The diminutive form Bobby emerged as a familiar and affectionate variant of Robert, particularly in English-speaking cultures, during the 19th century.

Historically, the name Robert has significant milestones, including its association with several notable figures. One of the earliest recorded bearers was Robert the Bruce, the King of Scots in the early 14th century, who played a crucial role in Scotland's struggle for independence.

The name also appears in various forms in literature and religious texts, including the King James Bible, which was published in 1611, where Robert was a common name among biblical translations. Saints named Robert, such as Saint Robert of Molesme, who founded the Cistercian order in the 11th century, further contributed to the name's prominence in Christian contexts.

Culturally, the name Bobby has resonated through various traditions and has been associated with qualities such as bravery and leadership, reflecting its etymological roots. The name has been used in various literary works and popular culture, often symbolizing a friendly or approachable character.

The affectionate diminutive Bobby has been embraced in many contexts, reinforcing the name's enduring appeal across generations. Overall, Bobby, as a derivative of Robert, encapsulates a rich historical and cultural significance that has persisted through the centuries.

Famous people named Bobby

In this section, you will find notable people named Bobby. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Bobby who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Bobby who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Bobby Fischer is a chess grandmaster best known for winning the World Chess Championship in 1972.

Bobby Flay is a chef and restaurateur best known for his appearances on Food Network and his restaurants like Mesa Grill.

Bobby Brown is a singer and songwriter best known for his work with New Edition and his solo hits like "My Prerogative.".

Bobby Cannavale is an actor best known for his roles in Boardwalk Empire, Vinyl, and Ant-Man.

Bobby McFerrin is a vocalist and conductor best known for his song "Don't Worry, Be Happy.".

Bobby Rydell is a singer and actor best known for his hits in the 1960s like "Wild One" and "Volare.".

Bobby Labonte is a retired NASCAR driver best known for winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in 2000.

Bobby Vinton is a singer and songwriter best known for his hits like "Blue Velvet" and "My Melody of Love.".

Bobby Darin is a singer and actor best known for his songs "Mack the Knife" and "Beyond the Sea.".

Bobby Heenan is a professional wrestling manager and commentator best known for his work in WWE and WCW.

Bobby Bonilla is a former Major League Baseball player best known for his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets.

Fictional characters named Bobby

The following list of fictional characters named Bobby is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Bobby Singer is a fictional character from the TV series Supernatural. He is a seasoned hunter and father figure to the main protagonists, Sam and Dean Winchester.

Bobby Hill is a fictional character from the animated television series King of the Hill. He is the son of Hank and Peggy Hill, known for his quirky personality and interests that often contrast with those of his father.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Bobby, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RobbieBillyCharlieDannyJohnnyTommy

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Bobby. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

RobbieBillyJoeyJimmyTeddyRobbyCodyRickyMikey

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Bobby was first seen in the United States in 1900.

Bobby has ranked as high as #45 nationally, which occurred in 1935, and has been most popular in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.

In the past 5 years the name Bobby has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Bobby is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Bobby was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Bobby.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 207 195 12
2024 201 192 9
2023 169 169 0
2022 224 214 10
2021 223 216 7
2020 268 268 0
2019 258 250 8
2018 279 272 7
2017 303 298 5
2016 322 322 0
2015 328 328 0
2014 313 313 0
2013 363 363 0
2012 337 331 6
2011 346 346 0
2010 463 458 5
2009 463 458 5
2008 521 515 6
2007 523 523 0
2006 552 546 6
2005 505 505 0
2004 581 573 8
2003 567 559 8
2002 650 644 6
2001 663 655 8
2000 742 730 12
1999 740 729 11
1998 854 835 19
1997 924 913 11
1996 954 932 22
1995 1,066 1,046 20
1994 1,155 1,136 19
1993 1,243 1,221 22
1992 1,408 1,387 21
1991 1,544 1,508 36
1990 1,706 1,677 29
1989 1,810 1,759 51
1988 1,745 1,715 30
1987 1,934 1,889 45
1986 2,162 2,105 57
1985 2,144 2,094 50
1984 2,168 2,119 49
1983 2,447 2,357 90
1982 2,706 2,605 101
1981 2,757 2,658 99
1980 2,832 2,724 108
1979 2,699 2,584 115
1978 2,495 2,398 97
1977 2,649 2,539 110
1976 2,754 2,644 110
1975 2,876 2,772 104
1974 2,909 2,792 117
1973 3,004 2,889 115
1972 3,284 3,171 113
1971 3,785 3,652 133
1970 3,783 3,636 147
1969 3,767 3,652 115
1968 3,729 3,628 101
1967 3,877 3,779 98
1966 4,150 4,068 82
1965 4,675 4,588 87
1964 5,193 5,082 111
1963 5,306 5,212 94
1962 5,431 5,323 108
1961 5,525 5,402 123
1960 5,758 5,656 102
1959 5,802 5,677 125
1958 5,833 5,735 98
1957 5,730 5,617 113
1956 5,464 5,358 106
1955 5,338 5,223 115
1954 5,638 5,507 131
1953 5,315 5,179 136
1952 5,091 4,960 131
1951 5,140 5,006 134
1950 5,148 5,019 129
1949 5,275 5,120 155
1948 5,720 5,581 139
1947 6,300 6,116 184
1946 5,943 5,771 172
1945 5,181 5,052 129
1944 5,581 5,410 171
1943 6,269 6,121 148
1942 6,380 6,248 132
1941 6,765 6,589 176
1940 7,031 6,882 149
1939 7,204 7,057 147
1938 7,689 7,498 191
1937 7,953 7,745 208
1936 7,928 7,735 193
1935 7,971 7,726 245
1934 7,779 7,532 247
1933 6,749 6,490 259
1932 6,847 6,597 250
1931 6,100 5,858 242
1930 5,443 5,181 262
1929 4,134 3,925 209
1928 3,165 2,972 193
1927 2,464 2,286 178
1926 1,739 1,595 144
1925 1,196 1,085 111
1924 832 733 99
1923 546 470 76
1922 435 370 65
1921 319 274 45
1920 223 170 53
1919 130 93 37
1918 127 81 46
1917 91 62 29
1916 80 49 31
1915 66 42 24
1914 57 36 21
1913 27 14 13
1912 38 14 24
1911 22 12 10
1910 24 8 16
1909 14 9 5
1908 6 6 0
1907 14 5 9
1906 7 7 0
1905 11 11 0
1904 16 8 8
1901 7 0 7
1900 12 7 5

Top States for Bobby (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 34
24%
CA 21
15%
FL 11
8%
GA 11
8%
NC 9
6%
TN 8
6%
VA 7
5%
IN 6
4%
WA 6
4%
OH 6
4%
KY 5
4%
LA 5
4%
MS 5
4%
AL 5
4%