Kolbe
Boy name · #1939 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
Kolbe is currently the #1939 boy name in the United States — 80 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2055, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 22,500 boys born in 2025 was named Kolbe.
The 36-year story
Kolbe first appears in the Social Security records in 1989, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2001, when 102 boys were named Kolbe — good for #1287 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 Kolbe per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kolbe against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kolbe in class?
Kolbe scores 60 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 Kolbe is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kolbe is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kolbes were TX (10), OH (6), CA (5), IN (5), KS (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Kolbe
Statistically, parents drawn to Kolbe tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kobi, Kobe, Kayne, Kole, and Haris.
KobiKobeKayneKoleHarisKeoniKaineKeyon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kolbe | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 80 | #1932 |
| 2024 | 82 | #1921 |
| 2023 | 85 | #1868 |
| 2022 | 67 | #2168 |
| 2021 | 63 | #2225 |
| 2020 | 59 | #2292 |
| 2019 | 65 | #2170 |
| 2018 | 52 | #2472 |
| 2017 | 46 | #2672 |
| 2016 | 52 | #2437 |
| 2015 | 69 | #2055 |
| 2014 | 61 | #2205 |
| 2013 | 49 | #2492 |
| 2012 | 50 | #2488 |
| 2011 | 43 | #2748 |
| 2010 | 59 | #2212 |
| 2009 | 56 | #2320 |
| 2008 | 45 | #2717 |
| 2007 | 57 | #2281 |
| 2006 | 38 | #2932 |
| 2005 | 35 | #2960 |
| 2004 | 52 | #2208 |
| 2003 | 78 | #1611 |
| 2002 | 80 | #1543 |
| 2001 | 102 | #1287 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kolbe a popular boy name?
Kolbe ranked #1939 among boys in 2025 with 80 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2055.
When was the name Kolbe most popular?
Kolbe peaked in 2001, when 102 American boys received the name (ranked #1287 that year). Since 2001 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kolbe?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 22,500 newborn American boys was named Kolbe. It scores 60/100 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.