Kohlby is of American origin, derived from the surname Kohl, which has German roots and means 'charcoal burner'. The name rose to popularity in the United States during the late 20th century, likely due to its unique sound and association with well-known individuals who bear it. It gained further recognition when it was used for a character in the popular television series '7th Heaven'.
The name Kohlby saw a brief spike in popularity around the early 2000s with six births recorded in both 1996 and 2002. This was followed by a slight decline with five births each in 2003 and 2004, before another dip to five births in 2007. Over this period, the name Kohlby had a total of 28 recorded births.