Tobi Unisex

Popularity: #935 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TOH-bee //ˈtoʊ.bi//

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: God is good; English: short form of Tobias

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Tobi is derived from the Hebrew name טוֹבִיָּה (Tobiah), which means "Yahweh is good." The name is composed of the elements "tov," meaning "good," and "Yah," a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh. This name transitioned into Greek as Τωβίας (Tobias) and subsequently into Latin as Tobias, before being adopted into various forms in Old French and Middle English, ultimately leading to the modern English variant Tobi.

The evolution of the name reflects a common practice in ancient cultures of attributing divine qualities to personal names, which was particularly significant in Hebrew tradition. Historically, the name Tobi has been associated with notable biblical figures, particularly in the Book of Tobit, which is part of the Apocrypha.

This text, dating back to the 3rd century BCE, tells the story of Tobit, a righteous Israelite who experiences trials and divine intervention. The narrative emphasizes themes of faith, charity, and the goodness of God, reinforcing the positive connotations of the name.

The name's biblical roots contributed to its endurance in various cultures, particularly among Jewish and Christian communities. Culturally, Tobi and its variants have been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing goodness and divine favor.

The name has also been used in literature and art, reflecting its enduring significance across centuries. In some contexts, diminutive forms such as Toby have emerged, but Tobi retains a distinct identity.

The name's historical and cultural resonance is evident in its continued use and adaptation across different languages and cultures, maintaining its association with positive attributes.

Famous people named Tobi

In this section, you will find notable people named Tobi. 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 Tobi who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Tobi 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.

Tobi Lou is a musician best known for his songs 'Buffalo' and 'Hello Tobi'.

Tobi Wong was an artist and designer best known for his innovative works in product design and art installations.

Fictional characters named Tobi

The following list of fictional characters named Tobi 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.

Tobi is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Naruto. He is a member of the Akatsuki and plays a significant role in the series' overarching plot as a manipulative antagonist.

Sibling suggestions

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

MayaLilaZoeNinaEllaClara

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Tobi. 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.

TaliaTaraTinaTessaTaliahTaya

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Tobi was first seen in the United States in 1934.

Tobi has ranked as high as #1449 nationally, which occurred in 1975, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Ohio, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Tobi has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Tobi 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 Tobi 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 Tobi.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 44 31 13
2024 43 26 17
2023 56 36 20
2022 38 29 9
2021 38 25 13
2020 38 20 18
2019 34 16 18
2018 28 19 9
2017 23 10 13
2016 24 8 16
2015 32 18 14
2014 34 24 10
2013 33 19 14
2012 34 19 15
2011 29 12 17
2010 26 11 15
2009 30 13 17
2008 29 12 17
2007 25 9 16
2006 29 12 17
2005 38 10 28
2004 34 7 27
2003 45 7 38
2002 45 5 40
2001 42 9 33
2000 40 13 27
1999 29 6 23
1998 42 10 32
1997 34 0 34
1996 34 6 28
1995 34 0 34
1994 32 7 25
1993 22 0 22
1992 18 0 18
1991 27 5 22
1990 29 5 24
1989 22 6 16
1988 31 11 20
1987 29 10 19
1986 26 0 26
1985 30 0 30
1984 30 0 30
1983 25 0 25
1982 35 8 27
1981 39 5 34
1980 45 6 39
1979 42 10 32
1978 73 8 65
1977 83 7 76
1976 124 15 109
1975 161 11 150
1974 148 12 136
1973 91 9 82
1972 119 11 108
1971 101 13 88
1970 101 9 92
1969 78 9 69
1968 65 0 65
1967 59 5 54
1966 62 7 55
1965 55 0 55
1964 44 0 44
1963 66 0 66
1962 40 0 40
1961 41 0 41
1960 36 0 36
1959 35 0 35
1958 34 0 34
1957 39 0 39
1956 47 0 47
1955 33 0 33
1954 29 0 29
1953 17 0 17
1952 24 0 24
1951 27 0 27
1950 20 0 20
1949 16 0 16
1948 16 0 16
1947 18 0 18
1946 17 0 17
1945 12 0 12
1944 14 0 14
1943 8 0 8
1942 12 0 12
1941 7 0 7
1940 7 0 7
1939 8 0 8
1937 8 0 8
1934 6 0 6

Top States for Tobi (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
NY 5
100%