Tobey is an uncommon yet appealing given name of American origin, derived from the Middle English 'Tobie', which itself is a diminutive form of Tobias. It gained notable recognition following its use in popular culture, most famously as the first name of the character Spider-Man portrayed by Tobey Maguire in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The name Tobey experienced fluctuations in popularity over time, with a notable peak in recent years. From the 1920s to the mid-1950s, its usage was quite low and relatively stable, ranging from 5 to 15 births per year. However, starting in the late 1950s, there was a significant increase in popularity, with over 20 births recorded annually between 1963 and 1974. The name reached its peak popularity in the late 1970s to early 1980s, with nearly 60 births in 1975 alone. After this high point, Tobey's usage declined steadily throughout the remainder of the century and into the early 2000s, dropping below 30 births per year by the mid-1990s.
Following a low point around the turn of the millennium (with fewer than 25 births annually from 2000 to 2004), Tobey's popularity began to rebound. It reached another peak in recent years, with over 70 births recorded between 2016 and 2022. Despite this resurgence, however, the name has not yet regained its former popularity from the late 1970s. In total, there have been 1,681 babies named Tobey since annual records began in 1924.