Toby is a name of Hebrew origin and it means "God is good". It is a diminutive form of the biblical name Tobias. In the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament, Tobias was the son of the virtuous Tobit. The name Toby has been popular for centuries, especially among English-speaking countries.
The name Toby first appeared in England during the Middle Ages, but it became more widespread during the Victorian era. It was often used as a nickname or pet form for boys named Thomas, Tobias, or other names beginning with the letter "T". Today, Toby is considered a given name in its own right and is quite popular among parents.
In literature, Toby has been used as a character name in several notable works, including Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations" and Mark Twain's short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". These literary references may have contributed to the popularity of the name Toby over time.
Overall, Toby is a name with a long history and a meaningful meaning. It has been worn by individuals from various backgrounds throughout the centuries and continues to be a popular choice among parents today.
The name Toby experienced a significant increase in popularity from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, with a notable peak in the 1960s and early 1970s, reaching its highest point in 1970 with 983 births. After this period, its usage decreased steadily until the late 1990s, with fluctuations in popularity throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Recently, Toby's popularity has shown a slight resurgence, with 157 births recorded in 2023. Overall, since 1882, there have been a total of 34,411 births with the name Toby.