Kirby Unisex

Popularity: #872 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationKER-bee / /ˈkɜːr.bi/

English; Scottish

Meaning

English: from the village by the church; Scottish: from the church settlement

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kirby has roots in Old Norse, derived from 'kirkja' meaning church and 'by' meaning settlement. It was originally a surname before becoming popular as a given name. The name has been used in various regions, particularly in England and Scotland, reflecting a connection to local geography and community.

Trend Summary

The name Kirby has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable rise in the mid-20th century.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Kirbie
  • Kyrby

International Variants

  • Kirby (English)
  • Kirbi (German)

Famous people named Kirby

Kirby Puckett was a professional baseball player known for his time with the Minnesota Twins and his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Kirby Howell-Baptiste is a British actress recognized for her roles in various television series and films.

Kirby Dick is an American documentary filmmaker known for his work on social issues and advocacy.

Kirby Morrow was a Canadian actor and voice actor known for his roles in animated series and video games.

Fictional characters named Kirby

Kirby is a character from the Nintendo video game franchise, known for his ability to inhale enemies and gain their powers.

Kirby O'Connor is a character in the animated series 'The Amazing World of Gumball', known for his quirky personality.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kirby was first seen in the United States in 1881. Kirby has ranked as high as #774 nationally, which occurred in 1957, and has been most popular in Louisiana, California, Texas, North Carolina, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Kirby has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Kirby (2023)

StateBirthsShare
MN 5
50%
TX 5
50%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
18815
18826
18838
188514
188610
18877
18886
189012
18917
189210
18939
18948
18958
189610
189713
18989
18997
190013
19018
19028
19035
19047
19058
19065
190712
19089
190913
191013
191118
191225
191330
191438
191559
191655
191759
191852
191954
192060
192158
192262
192361
192471
192548
192677
192753
192859
192971
193066
193151
193264
193359
193474
193568
193682
193797
193874
193996
1940102
1941120
1942136
1943139
1944110
1945106
1946191
1947209
1948199
1949197
1950226
1951247
1952265
1953288
1954326
1955271
1956343
1957358
1958342
1959343
1960346
1961290
1962277
1963253
1964230
1965212
1966188
1967192
1968191
1969173
1970148
1971290
1972266
1973151
1974146
1975145
1976118
1977129
197889
1979107
1980104
1981111
198278
1983147
1984142
1985127
1986130
1987117
1988186
1989196
1990167
1991177
1992194
1993173
1994136
1995129
1996131
1997115
1998100
199986
200073
200182
200264
200354
200460
200550
200653
200764
200849
200947
201050
201151
201248
201344
201440
201555
201644
201745
201851
201943
202052
202139
202244
202347
202452