Kolby
Boy name · #1226 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
Kolby ranks #1226 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 165 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #828, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,909 boys born in 2025 was named Kolby.
The 57-year story
Kolby first appears in the Social Security records in 1968, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2001, when 739 boys were named Kolby — good for #359 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 Kolby per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kolby against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kolby in class?
Kolby scores 66 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. Distinctive-band names are familiar enough to pronounce on the first try, uncommon enough to feel chosen rather than defaulted.
Where Kolby is most common
Geography matters for names, and Kolby is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Kolbys were TX (13), OH (10), CA (9), FL (9), GA (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Kolby
Statistically, parents drawn to Kolby tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Colby, Koby, Coby, Keon, and Javon.
ColbyKobyCobyKeonJavonKeyonJordyJakob
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kolby | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 165 | #1222 |
| 2024 | 156 | #1262 |
| 2023 | 167 | #1197 |
| 2022 | 159 | #1237 |
| 2021 | 151 | #1262 |
| 2020 | 170 | #1144 |
| 2019 | 153 | #1234 |
| 2018 | 182 | #1086 |
| 2017 | 166 | #1141 |
| 2016 | 219 | #950 |
| 2015 | 272 | #828 |
| 2014 | 300 | #776 |
| 2013 | 304 | #749 |
| 2012 | 286 | #791 |
| 2011 | 325 | #705 |
| 2010 | 344 | #684 |
| 2009 | 371 | #662 |
| 2008 | 401 | #618 |
| 2007 | 378 | #642 |
| 2006 | 341 | #669 |
| 2005 | 387 | #585 |
| 2004 | 497 | #493 |
| 2003 | 543 | #464 |
| 2002 | 676 | #384 |
| 2001 | 739 | #359 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kolby a popular boy name?
Kolby ranked #1226 among boys in 2025 with 165 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #828.
When was the name Kolby most popular?
Kolby peaked in 2001, when 739 American boys received the name (ranked #359 that year). Since 2001 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kolby?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,909 newborn American boys was named Kolby. It scores 66/100 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.