Colby
Colby: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkəʊl.bi/ · /ˈkoʊl.bi/
Meaning and origin of Colby
Root meaning: “charcoal”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
From either the Old Norse personal name Koli or kol (“charcoal”) + býr (“settlement”).
How popular is Colby?
Since 1880, 4,184 girls and 53,971 boys in the U.S. have been named Colby (7% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1032 in 1985. Its highest rank for boys was #99 in 2001. In 2025 it ranked #615 for boys, with 515 babies given the name.
Names similar to Colby
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Colby
Sister and brother names that share Colby's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Colby FAQ
What does the name Colby mean?
Colby traces back to a root meaning "charcoal". A male given name transferred from the surname. From either the Old Norse personal name Koli or kol (“charcoal”) + býr (“settlement”).
What is the origin of the name Colby?
Colby is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Colby?
Since 1880, 4,184 girls and 53,971 boys in the U.S. have been named Colby (7% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1032 in 1985. Its highest rank for boys was #99 in 2001. In 2025 it ranked #615 for boys, with 515 babies given the name.
Is Colby a boy or girl name?
Colby is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 4,184 girls and 53,971 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.