Welby is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. Derived from the Old English words 'wæl' meaning 'foreign' or 'strange', and 'bý' which signifies 'settlement' or 'farm'. Therefore, Welby can be interpreted to mean "settlement of foreigners" or "strange settlement". This name has a historical association with Welby, a village in Northamptonshire, England. The name Welby is believed to have been introduced into Britain by the Normans after the 1066 Norman Conquest of England. It was initially used as a surname but later evolved into a given name. Welby is considered rare and unique, with very few individuals bearing this name worldwide. It's often associated with independent thinkers due to its uncommon nature.
These statistics show that the name Welby experienced its peak popularity around World War I, with a significant spike in births occurring between 1916 and 1918. However, it seems to have fallen out of favor over time, as there were fewer than ten births per year from the 1930s onwards, with only occasional spikes, such as in 1976, 1987, and 1993. Overall, the name Welby has been relatively uncommon throughout history, with a total of 372 births recorded over this period.