Joby Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JOH-bee //ˈdʒoʊ.bi//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: 'persecuted'; English: diminutive of Job
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Joby is believed to be a diminutive form of the biblical name Job, which has its origins in the Hebrew language. The Hebrew name אִיּוֹב (Iyyov) is thought to derive from the root meaning 'to be hostile' or 'to be an enemy.' This name was later translated into Greek as Ἰώβ (Iōb) and subsequently into Latin as Jobus, before making its way into Old French and eventually into English as Job.
The name Job is most famously associated with the biblical figure from the Book of Job, a text that dates back to the 6th century BCE, which explores themes of suffering, faith, and divine justice. Throughout history, the figure of Job has been significant in various religious traditions, particularly within Judaism and Christianity.
The Book of Job is considered one of the wisdom books of the Old Testament and has been influential in theological discussions about the nature of suffering and the human condition. The name Job has been used in various literary and artistic contexts, reflecting its deep roots in religious and philosophical discourse.
In the Christian tradition, Job is often seen as a symbol of patience and endurance in the face of adversity, which has contributed to the name's lasting resonance. The diminutive Joby likely emerged as a more affectionate or informal variant, reflecting a common linguistic practice of creating shorter forms of names for familiarity.
While Joby itself may not have a long historical record, its connection to the enduring biblical narrative of Job imbues it with cultural significance. The name Joby, therefore, carries with it the weight of its biblical antecedent, symbolizing resilience and faith amidst trials.
Famous people named Joby
In this section, you will find notable people named Joby. 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 Joby who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Joby 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.
Joby Harold is a screenwriter and producer best known for Army of the Dead, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Joby, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Joby. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Joby was first seen in the United States in 1939.
Joby has ranked as high as #1063 nationally, which occurred in 1977, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Joby has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Joby 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 Joby was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Joby (1995)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| LA | 5 |
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 Joby.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2011 | 16 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 1999 | 18 |
| 1998 | 14 |
| 1997 | 14 |
| 1996 | 26 |
| 1995 | 24 |
| 1994 | 23 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1992 | 21 |
| 1991 | 21 |
| 1990 | 19 |
| 1989 | 14 |
| 1988 | 14 |
| 1987 | 19 |
| 1986 | 21 |
| 1985 | 14 |
| 1984 | 21 |
| 1983 | 17 |
| 1982 | 12 |
| 1981 | 17 |
| 1980 | 22 |
| 1979 | 21 |
| 1978 | 23 |
| 1977 | 37 |
| 1976 | 36 |
| 1975 | 29 |
| 1974 | 33 |
| 1973 | 29 |
| 1972 | 33 |
| 1971 | 31 |
| 1970 | 16 |
| 1969 | 23 |
| 1968 | 24 |
| 1967 | 16 |
| 1966 | 20 |
| 1965 | 20 |
| 1964 | 15 |
| 1963 | 23 |
| 1962 | 9 |
| 1961 | 6 |
| 1960 | 12 |
| 1959 | 13 |
| 1958 | 10 |
| 1957 | 5 |
| 1956 | 9 |
| 1955 | 6 |
| 1954 | 7 |
| 1953 | 7 |
| 1952 | 6 |
| 1949 | 8 |
| 1947 | 7 |
| 1939 | 5 |