Boy name · Germanic
Bobby
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: bright fameBobby is a boy's name that comes from Germanic and means "bright fame". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Bright fame
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #1097 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Bobby
As a boy's name, Bobby comes from Germanic and means "bright fame". It is used in English.
Its meaning puts Bobby on our names that mean light list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Bobby on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Bobby on 3 lists.
“Edinburgh's Greyfriars terrier, said to guard his owner's grave 14 years”
From Boy dog names, famous real boy dogs
“British slang that honors Sir Robert Peel”
From Funny police names, funny police nicknames and slang
“Bright fame; Germanic. Short for Robert”
From Old man names, cozy grandpa nickname names
How popular is Bobby?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,097
- 195 babies, 114 per million boys
- Best rank
- #23 in 1934
- Most babies: 7,745 in 1937
- Babies since 1900
- At least 315,053
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 39 per million |
| 1910s | 62 per million |
| 1920s | 1,260 per million |
| 1930s | 6,570 per million |
| 1940s | 3,956 per million |
| 1950s | 2,635 per million |
| 1960s | 2,408 per million |
| 1970s | 1,761 per million |
| 1980s | 1,193 per million |
| 1990s | 584 per million |
| 2000s | 286 per million |
| 2010s | 174 per million |
| 2020s | 121 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #754 | #786 | #823 | #880 | #850 | #1,016 | #1,033 | #1,192 | #1,114 | #1,097 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Bobby
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- LopakaBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RabBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RabbieBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RaibeartBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RobbieBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RobertBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RobertoBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RobinBright fame (Germanic, unisex)
- RoibeárdBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RupertBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RuprechtBright fame (Germanic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- ClaraClear, bright (Latin, girl)
- BertaBright, famous (Germanic, girl)
- LambertBright land (Germanic, boy)
- MurielBright sea (Scottish Gaelic, girl)
- RobertaBright fame (Germanic, girl)
- AlbertNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertoNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- HubertBright heart (Germanic, boy)
- RoxanaBright, shining (Persian, girl)
- BertBright (Germanic, boy)
Middle names for Bobby
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- AltonTown at a river's source (Old English, boy)
- ChristopherBearer of Christ (Greek, boy)
- HarrisonSon of Harry (English, boy)
- LamarThe pool (Old French, boy)
- RichardBrave ruler (Germanic, boy)
- SpencerSteward, dispenser (Old French, boy)
- WayneWagon maker or driver (Old English, boy)
- WestonWest town (Old English, boy)
More boy names from Germanic
- HugoHeart, mind (Germanic, boy)
- LiamShort for William, will helmet (Germanic, boy)
- LeonardoBrave lion (Germanic, boy)
- AlaricRuler of all (Germanic, boy)
- ArmandoArmy man (Germanic, boy)
- ArnoEagle (Germanic, boy)
- ArnoldEagle power (Germanic, boy)
- BaldwinBold friend (Germanic, boy)
- BernardBrave bear (Germanic, boy)
- BernardoBrave bear (Germanic, boy)
Bobby: common questions
What does the name Bobby mean?
Bobby comes from Germanic and means "bright fame".
Is Bobby a boy or girl name?
Bobby is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 12 girls and 195 boys in the US were named Bobby, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Bobby come from?
Bobby comes from Germanic and means "bright fame". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Bobby?
Bobby ranked #1,097 in the US in 2025, with 195 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Bobby?
Forms of Bobby with the same meaning and origin include Lopaka (Hawaiian), Rab (Scottish), Rabbie (Scottish), Raibeart (Scottish) and Robbie (English).
What middle names go with Bobby?
Middle names that flow well with Bobby include Alton, Christopher, Harrison, Lamar and Richard. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.