Robby Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: RAH-bee //ˈrɒbi//
Origin: English; German
Meaning: English: Bright fame; German: Fame and glory
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Robby is derived from the Old High German name Hrodebert, which is composed of the elements 'hrod,' meaning 'fame' or 'glory,' and 'beraht,' meaning 'bright' or 'shining.' This name evolved into the Old French form Robert, which made its way into Middle English as Robert. The diminutive form Robby emerged as a variant of Robert, particularly in English-speaking contexts, during the late medieval period.
The transition from Robert to Robby reflects a common linguistic practice of creating affectionate or familiar forms of names, which became popular in the 19th century. Historically, the name Robert has significant milestones, notably its association with several kings of Scotland, including Robert the Bruce, who reigned in the early 14th century and is celebrated for his role in the Wars of Scottish Independence.
The name also appears in the Bible, particularly in the context of saints, with Saint Robert of Molesme, a 11th-century founder of the Cistercian order, contributing to its religious significance. The name gained further prominence through literary works, including the King James Bible, which was published in 1611 and has influenced English literature and culture.
Culturally, Robby and its variants have been associated with qualities such as bravery and leadership, echoing the historical figures who bore the name. The name's enduring presence in various cultures can be attributed to its strong roots and the positive connotations associated with its meaning.
The diminutive Robby, while less formal, carries the same historical weight and is often seen as a friendly and approachable version of Robert, reflecting the name's adaptability across different contexts.
Famous people named Robby
In this section, you will find notable people named Robby. 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 Robby who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Robby 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.
Robby Krieger is a musician best known for being the guitarist of The Doors.
Robby Gordon is a race car driver best known for his participation in NASCAR and off-road racing.
Robby Benson is an actor and director best known for his roles in Beauty and the Beast, One on One, and Ice Castles.
Robby McCulloch is a musician best known for his work with the band The Mamas and the Papas.
Fictional characters named Robby
The following list of fictional characters named Robby 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.
Robby the Robot is a fictional character from the film Forbidden Planet. He is a highly advanced robot that serves as a servant and protector on the alien planet Altair IV.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Robby, 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 Robby. 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 Robby was first seen in the United States in 1922.
Robby has ranked as high as #746 nationally, which occurred in 1964, and has been most popular in California, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Robby has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Robby 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 Robby was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Robby (2023)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 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 Robby.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2014 | 32 |
| 2013 | 32 |
| 2012 | 34 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2010 | 42 |
| 2009 | 34 |
| 2008 | 38 |
| 2007 | 34 |
| 2006 | 39 |
| 2005 | 47 |
| 2004 | 31 |
| 2003 | 36 |
| 2002 | 44 |
| 2001 | 41 |
| 2000 | 50 |
| 1999 | 56 |
| 1998 | 35 |
| 1997 | 46 |
| 1996 | 61 |
| 1995 | 53 |
| 1994 | 72 |
| 1993 | 79 |
| 1992 | 104 |
| 1991 | 107 |
| 1990 | 111 |
| 1989 | 142 |
| 1988 | 120 |
| 1987 | 128 |
| 1986 | 149 |
| 1985 | 158 |
| 1984 | 146 |
| 1983 | 157 |
| 1982 | 190 |
| 1981 | 212 |
| 1980 | 240 |
| 1979 | 232 |
| 1978 | 211 |
| 1977 | 248 |
| 1976 | 164 |
| 1975 | 199 |
| 1974 | 202 |
| 1973 | 231 |
| 1972 | 318 |
| 1971 | 354 |
| 1970 | 312 |
| 1969 | 374 |
| 1968 | 346 |
| 1967 | 254 |
| 1966 | 307 |
| 1965 | 351 |
| 1964 | 412 |
| 1963 | 388 |
| 1962 | 360 |
| 1961 | 314 |
| 1960 | 207 |
| 1959 | 208 |
| 1958 | 204 |
| 1957 | 150 |
| 1956 | 149 |
| 1955 | 102 |
| 1954 | 98 |
| 1953 | 80 |
| 1952 | 65 |
| 1951 | 35 |
| 1950 | 39 |
| 1949 | 52 |
| 1948 | 31 |
| 1947 | 59 |
| 1946 | 41 |
| 1945 | 12 |
| 1944 | 18 |
| 1943 | 17 |
| 1942 | 18 |
| 1941 | 21 |
| 1940 | 22 |
| 1939 | 28 |
| 1938 | 15 |
| 1937 | 10 |
| 1936 | 12 |
| 1935 | 19 |
| 1934 | 10 |
| 1933 | 10 |
| 1932 | 10 |
| 1931 | 9 |
| 1930 | 7 |
| 1929 | 9 |
| 1928 | 9 |
| 1927 | 6 |
| 1925 | 9 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1923 | 5 |
| 1922 | 6 |