Baby Name Popularity Profile

Colby

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Colby.

✦ From the dark settlement 🌍 English traditional
National Rank (2025) #615
All-Time Peak Rank #99 Achieved 2001
Total U.S. Births 53,971 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 93.7% Boy / 6.3% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1888 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2000s 3,859 births in 2001
💡 The Colby Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning From the dark settlement
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from an English surname, which was originally a place name meaning 'Koli's settlement' from Old Norse elements *koli* (charcoal, dark-haired) and *býr* (farm, settlement).
Common Nicknames
Cole
Alternative Spellings
Colbie
Pronunciation: KOL-bee
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Colby

According to SSA data, Colby achieved its highest historical rank of #99 in 2001. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2001 with 3,859 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 31.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 110 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Colby across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift -31.6% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 3,859 births in 2001
Years in Top 100 1 yrs
Years in Top 500 41 yrs
Registry Streak 110 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 5
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 32
1920s: 90
1930s: 73
1940s: 137
1950s: 225
1960s: 430
1970s: 2,754
1980s: 6,843
1990s: 14,261
2000s: 19,182
2010s: 7,199
2020s: 2,740

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Co-lby
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with C, a letter used by only 5.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Colby.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Maine
Top States Maine, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont, Idaho
States with Data 50
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Maine Unranked 1,031 2002 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire #242 704 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #721 1,790 1992 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 345 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 503 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #484 1,031 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #682 1,902 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #746 1,682 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #332 1,050 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #722 1,348 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #389 644 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada Unranked 287 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #570 877 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #581 1,450 2001 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #476 2,192 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #881 5,752 2001 25.6% Decline
Tennessee #680 1,586 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #426 935 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #597 1,995 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 95 1988 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #577 812 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #398 1,504 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #817 2,248 2001 37.9% Decline
Massachusetts #416 1,536 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #408 795 2001 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #513 861 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware Unranked 121 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #439 1,331 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #393 615 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #583 839 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #790 632 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 184 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 154 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #409 712 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #402 2,112 2001 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 124 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 110 2001 Insufficient historical volume
California #885 3,526 2001 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #231 300 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #597 553 2001 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 87 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #456 565 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #816 973 2001 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico Unranked 106 2002 Insufficient historical volume
New York #1068 1,427 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 25 1990 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #602 772 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #396 284 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #685 535 2001 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #844 373 2001 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

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