Colby
Boy name · #615 in 2025 · Uniqueness 56/100
In 2025, 455 baby boys were named Colby, placing it at #615 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #456, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,956 boys born in 2025 was named Colby.
The 137-year story
Colby first appears in the Social Security records in 1888, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2001, when 3,859 boys were named Colby — good for #99 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Colby per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Colby against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Colby in class?
Colby scores 56 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Colby is most common
Geography matters for names, and Colby is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Colbys were TX (29), CA (26), PA (26), NC (22), FL (18). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Colby
Statistically, parents drawn to Colby tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kolby, Coby, Trey, Cesar, and Collin.
KolbyCobyTreyCesarCollinDevinColinAndy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Colby | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 455 | #615 |
| 2024 | 490 | #583 |
| 2023 | 467 | #607 |
| 2022 | 469 | #600 |
| 2021 | 420 | #651 |
| 2020 | 439 | #618 |
| 2019 | 447 | #612 |
| 2018 | 459 | #597 |
| 2017 | 465 | #584 |
| 2016 | 558 | #529 |
| 2015 | 665 | #456 |
| 2014 | 717 | #427 |
| 2013 | 746 | #400 |
| 2012 | 909 | #341 |
| 2011 | 1,026 | #314 |
| 2010 | 1,207 | #280 |
| 2009 | 1,152 | #285 |
| 2008 | 1,256 | #273 |
| 2007 | 1,221 | #283 |
| 2006 | 1,272 | #272 |
| 2005 | 1,603 | #220 |
| 2004 | 2,066 | #185 |
| 2003 | 2,170 | #181 |
| 2002 | 3,118 | #125 |
| 2001 | 3,859 | #99 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Colby a popular boy name?
Colby ranked #615 among boys in 2025 with 455 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #456.
When was the name Colby most popular?
Colby peaked in 2001, when 3,859 American boys received the name (ranked #99 that year). Since 2001 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Colby?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,956 newborn American boys was named Colby. It scores 56/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.