Meaning
A name that means something.
BA diminutive of Robert, from Germanic hrod ('fame') + beraht ('bright'); 'bright fame'. Quintessentially American 20th-century, from Bobby Kennedy to Bobby Fischer.
A name from Germanic · Boy
Bobby
A diminutive of Robert, from Germanic hrod ('fame') + beraht ('bright'); 'bright fame'. Quintessentially American 20th-century, from Bobby Kennedy to Bobby Fischer.
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Popularity over time
314,666 U.S. births recorded
from 1900–2023.
A 123-year arc in numbers.
Popularity · 1900–2023
169 births in 2023
1900 1961 2023
Babies named per year Peak year Most recent
Variants & spellings
Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint. 3 ways to spell "Bobby".
Related guides
Read more in the Almanac.
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Famous bearers
People who carry the name Bobby.
- BBobby Kennedy (RFK, U.S. attorney general)
- BBobby Fischer (chess champion)
- BBobby Brown (singer)
Quick answers
People often ask about Bobby.
- What does the name Bobby mean?
- Bobby means a diminutive of Robert, from Germanic hrod ('fame') + beraht ('bright'); 'bright fame'. Quintessentially American 20th-century, from Bobby Kennedy to Bobby Fischer.
- Where does the name Bobby come from?
- Bobby is a boy name of Germanic origin.
- Is Bobby a boy or a girl name?
- Bobby is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 3% of children given the name Bobby are girls and 97% are boys.
- How popular is the name Bobby in 2023?
- Bobby ranks #1192 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1935 with 7,971 babies.
- How do you pronounce Bobby?
- Bobby is pronounced BOB-ee (2 syllables).
- What are common spellings of Bobby?
- Bobby is also written as Bob, Bobbie, Robby.
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About this page
Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.