Tobin Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TOH-bin //ˈtoʊbɪn//
Origin: Irish; Hebrew
Meaning: Irish: 'descendant of the poet'; Hebrew: 'goodness'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Tobin is derived from the Hebrew name טוֹבִיָּה (Tobiyah), which means "God is good." This name transitioned into the Greek form Τοβίας (Tobias) and subsequently into Latin as Tobias, before being adapted into Old French as Tobin. The evolution into English occurred through the influence of these languages, particularly during the medieval period when biblical names gained prominence in English-speaking regions due to the spread of Christianity and the translation of religious texts.
Historically, the name Tobias appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically 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 of the tribe of Naphtali, and his son Tobias.
The narrative emphasizes themes of faith, divine providence, and moral integrity. The popularity of the name was further solidified with the translation of the Bible into English, notably in the King James Version published in 1611, which included the Book of Tobit in its Apocryphal section.
Culturally, the name Tobin has been associated with positive attributes such as goodness and divine favor, reflecting its etymological roots. The name has also been embraced in various forms across different cultures, with diminutives like Toby being commonly used in English-speaking contexts.
The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its biblical connections and the universal themes of goodness and faith that resonate across cultures and eras.
Famous people named Tobin
In this section, you will find notable people named Tobin. 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 Tobin who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Tobin 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.
Tobin Heath is a soccer player best known for winning the FIFA Women's World Cup and Olympic gold medals with the U.S. Women's National Team.
Tobin Bell is an actor best known for his role in the Saw film series, as well as in films like The Firm and The Last House on the Left.
Fictional characters named Tobin
The following list of fictional characters named Tobin 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.
Tobin is a fictional character from the video game series The Last of Us. He is a member of the Fireflies, a revolutionary militia group fighting against the oppressive military regime.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tobin, 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 Tobin. 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 Tobin was first seen in the United States in 1941.
Tobin has ranked as high as #1199 nationally, which occurred in 2013, and has been most popular in California, Michigan, Texas, Ohio, and Washington.
In the past 5 years the name Tobin has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tobin 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 Tobin was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Tobin (2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| OH | 5 | |
| 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 Tobin.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2023 | 51 |
| 2022 | 61 |
| 2021 | 79 |
| 2020 | 87 |
| 2019 | 79 |
| 2018 | 84 |
| 2017 | 84 |
| 2016 | 118 |
| 2015 | 130 |
| 2014 | 154 |
| 2013 | 163 |
| 2012 | 139 |
| 2011 | 135 |
| 2010 | 150 |
| 2009 | 113 |
| 2008 | 139 |
| 2007 | 148 |
| 2006 | 107 |
| 2005 | 110 |
| 2004 | 82 |
| 2003 | 98 |
| 2002 | 78 |
| 2001 | 68 |
| 2000 | 63 |
| 1999 | 46 |
| 1998 | 44 |
| 1997 | 73 |
| 1996 | 39 |
| 1995 | 33 |
| 1994 | 36 |
| 1993 | 40 |
| 1992 | 38 |
| 1991 | 45 |
| 1990 | 37 |
| 1989 | 57 |
| 1988 | 44 |
| 1987 | 44 |
| 1986 | 52 |
| 1985 | 38 |
| 1984 | 37 |
| 1983 | 46 |
| 1982 | 47 |
| 1981 | 43 |
| 1980 | 46 |
| 1979 | 64 |
| 1978 | 98 |
| 1977 | 107 |
| 1976 | 102 |
| 1975 | 127 |
| 1974 | 114 |
| 1973 | 118 |
| 1972 | 90 |
| 1971 | 132 |
| 1970 | 122 |
| 1969 | 113 |
| 1968 | 81 |
| 1967 | 58 |
| 1966 | 64 |
| 1965 | 44 |
| 1964 | 71 |
| 1963 | 57 |
| 1962 | 45 |
| 1961 | 51 |
| 1960 | 83 |
| 1959 | 55 |
| 1958 | 85 |
| 1957 | 39 |
| 1956 | 25 |
| 1955 | 21 |
| 1954 | 26 |
| 1953 | 12 |
| 1952 | 15 |
| 1951 | 18 |
| 1950 | 12 |
| 1949 | 6 |
| 1948 | 8 |
| 1944 | 5 |
| 1942 | 9 |
| 1941 | 5 |