Boy name · Hebrew
Toby
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: God is goodToby is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "God is good". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- God is good
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #979 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Toby
As a boy's name, Toby comes from Hebrew and means "God is good". It is used in English.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Toby on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Toby on 5 lists.
“Keith made it a proud, booming country name”
From Redneck names for boys, country music inspired boy names
“A cheerful, old-school favorite for a friendly tom”
From Boy cat names, classic boy cat names
“A friendly short form of Tobias, meaning God is good”
From Boy dog names, popular boy dog names
“God is good; Hebrew, short for Tobias”
From Cute boy names, cute nickname-style boy names
“Sweet, loyal and always ready to cuddle”
From Taco Bell chihuahua name, boy chihuahua names
How popular is Toby?
- US rank in 2025
- #979
- 234 babies, 137 per million boys
- Best rank
- #190 in 1975
- 1,191 babies that year
- Babies since 1882
- At least 34,846
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 9 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 per million |
| 1900s | 24 per million |
| 1910s | 24 per million |
| 1920s | 23 per million |
| 1930s | 47 per million |
| 1940s | 83 per million |
| 1950s | 105 per million |
| 1960s | 226 per million |
| 1970s | 598 per million |
| 1980s | 204 per million |
| 1990s | 161 per million |
| 2000s | 243 per million |
| 2010s | 181 per million |
| 2020s | 109 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #768 | #806 | #826 | #951 | #1,139 | #1,091 | #1,165 | #1,241 | #1,102 | #979 |
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 Toby
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- TobiahGod is good (Hebrew, boy)
- TobiasGod is good (Hebrew, boy)
- TobiaszGod is good (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Toby
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- TomA twin (Aramaic, boy)
- TolyaShort form of Anatoly, sunrise (Greek, boy)
- ToméA twin (Aramaic, boy)
- TommyTwin (Aramaic, boy)
- ToñoPet form of Antonio (Spanish, boy)
- TorThunder, the god Thor (Old Norse, boy)
- ToruTo pierce through, thorough (depends on kanji) (Japanese, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- AgataGood, from Greek agathos (Greek, girl)
- HassanHandsome, good (Arabic, boy)
- AgathaGood (Greek, girl)
- AgatheGood one (Greek, girl)
- BushraGood news (Arabic, girl)
- DariaHolding firm the good (Persian, girl)
- DariusHe who holds firm the good (Persian, boy)
- DaryaHolding firm the good; also sea in Persian (Persian, girl)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- EudoraGood gift (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Toby
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
Toby: common questions
What does the name Toby mean?
Toby comes from Hebrew and means "God is good".
Is Toby a boy or girl name?
Toby is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 101 girls and 234 boys in the US were named Toby, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Toby come from?
Toby comes from Hebrew and means "God is good". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Toby?
Toby ranked #979 in the US in 2025, with 234 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Toby?
Forms of Toby with the same meaning and origin include Tobiah (English), Tobias (English) and Tobiasz (Polish).
What middle names go with Toby?
Middle names that flow well with Toby include Abraham, Hunter, Magnus, Marshall and Maximilian. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.