Tobe Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TOHB /toʊb/
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: 'God is good'; English: diminutive of Tobias
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Tobe is derived from the Hebrew name Toviyah, which means "God is good." The etymology can be traced back to the Hebrew root "tov," meaning "good." This name was later rendered in Greek as Tobias, which was then adopted into Latin as Tobias before making its way into Old French as Tobie. The transition into English occurred in the Middle Ages, where it was anglicized to Tobe, often used as a diminutive or variant of Tobias.
Historically, the name Tobe has significant biblical connections, particularly through the Book of Tobit, which is part of the Apocrypha in some Christian traditions. This text, dating back to the 3rd or 2nd century BCE, tells the story of Tobit and his son Tobias, emphasizing themes of faith, divine providence, and familial duty.
The name Tobias appears in various forms across different cultures and languages, including the Latin Vulgate and the King James Bible, which contributed to its recognition and use in Christian contexts. Culturally, the name Tobe carries connotations of goodness and divine favor, reflecting the positive attributes associated with its Hebrew origins.
It has been used in various literary and artistic works, often symbolizing virtue and moral integrity. The diminutive form Toby has also been historically relevant, appearing in literature and folklore, which further solidified the name's cultural resonance.
Overall, Tobe encapsulates a rich linguistic and historical journey, reflecting its enduring significance across different eras and cultures.
Famous people named Tobe
In this section, you will find notable people named Tobe. 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 Tobe who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Tobe 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.
Tobe Hooper is a filmmaker best known for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Poltergeist, and Lifeforce.
Tobe Nwigwe is a rapper and songwriter best known for his songs and the viral series #GetTwistedSundays.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tobe, 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 Tobe. 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 Tobe was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Tobe has ranked as high as #820 nationally, which occurred in 1916, and has been most popular in Georgia, Alabama, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Tobe has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tobe 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 Tobe was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Tobe (1923)
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 Tobe.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 1999 | 7 |
| 1997 | 8 |
| 1983 | 7 |
| 1982 | 5 |
| 1981 | 7 |
| 1980 | 6 |
| 1979 | 7 |
| 1978 | 11 |
| 1977 | 11 |
| 1976 | 10 |
| 1975 | 9 |
| 1974 | 13 |
| 1973 | 10 |
| 1971 | 10 |
| 1970 | 10 |
| 1968 | 11 |
| 1967 | 8 |
| 1966 | 8 |
| 1965 | 6 |
| 1964 | 8 |
| 1961 | 5 |
| 1960 | 9 |
| 1958 | 5 |
| 1957 | 12 |
| 1954 | 6 |
| 1952 | 7 |
| 1951 | 5 |
| 1950 | 7 |
| 1949 | 11 |
| 1947 | 6 |
| 1946 | 7 |
| 1945 | 9 |
| 1944 | 6 |
| 1943 | 7 |
| 1942 | 7 |
| 1941 | 8 |
| 1940 | 5 |
| 1939 | 10 |
| 1935 | 8 |
| 1933 | 7 |
| 1932 | 9 |
| 1931 | 5 |
| 1930 | 16 |
| 1929 | 15 |
| 1928 | 8 |
| 1927 | 7 |
| 1926 | 5 |
| 1925 | 10 |
| 1924 | 11 |
| 1923 | 16 |
| 1922 | 16 |
| 1921 | 10 |
| 1920 | 10 |
| 1919 | 19 |
| 1918 | 19 |
| 1917 | 5 |
| 1916 | 20 |
| 1915 | 11 |
| 1914 | 10 |
| 1913 | 17 |
| 1912 | 12 |
| 1911 | 7 |
| 1910 | 16 |
| 1909 | 7 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1907 | 8 |
| 1903 | 11 |
| 1902 | 9 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1899 | 6 |
| 1898 | 10 |
| 1897 | 10 |
| 1896 | 8 |
| 1895 | 9 |
| 1894 | 12 |
| 1893 | 10 |
| 1892 | 10 |
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1890 | 11 |
| 1889 | 11 |
| 1888 | 16 |
| 1887 | 9 |
| 1886 | 9 |
| 1885 | 10 |
| 1884 | 8 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1882 | 17 |
| 1881 | 16 |
| 1880 | 15 |