Bobby
Gender: Mostly Boy
Meaning: To live or precious
Origin: Scandinavian/Chinese
Popularity: Ranked #1097 in 2025 with 195 babies born.
History: Bobby peaked in the 1960s. Bobby Kennedy inspired a generation before his assassination. Bobby Brown defined new jack swing. Bobby Fischer dominated chess. Bobby means American brilliance cut short.
Similar names: bob, bobbi, bobbie, bo
Name length: 5 letters
How common is Bobby? About 1 in 16,080 babies born in 2025 were named Bobby, or roughly 0.6 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Bobby
What does the name Bobby mean?
Bobby means “To live or precious” from Scandinavian/Chinese roots.
What is the origin of the name Bobby?
Bobby has Scandinavian/Chinese origin. The traditional meaning is “To live or precious”.
How popular is Bobby?
Bobby ranked #1097 in 2025 — given to 195 babies that year.
When was Bobby most popular?
Bobby peaked in 1937 with 7,745 babies registered that year.
Is Bobby a boy or girl name?
Bobby is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Bobbys in registered births are male.
Is the name Bobby rising or falling in popularity?
Bobby has fallen 248 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #849 in 2020 to #1097 in 2025.
How long has Bobby been recorded?
Bobby appears in birth records across 124 years — from 1900 through 2025.