Colby

#2,822 for girls in 2025, 60 births · #615 for boys in 2025, 455 births
Given to boys 92.8% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
2001 · 3,859 births
Debut · boys
5 births
In top 100 · boys
1 yr
of 146 years
Total births · boys
53,971
since 1888

Colby over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201990peak #1,030, 1985peak #99, 2001girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#2,82260#615455
2024#3,22549#583490
2023#3,38647#607467
2022#2,68964#600469
2021#2,95856#651420
2020#3,39945#618439
2019#3,27248#612447
2018#3,61442#597459
2017#3,34647#584465
2016#3,99637#529558
2015#3,47845#456665
2014#3,13752#427717
2013#4,33633#400746
2012#3,36448#341909
2011#2,98957#3141,026
2010#2,69166#2801,207
2009#2,56872#2851,152
2008#2,63070#2731,256
2007#2,68468#2831,221
2006#3,56444#2721,272
2005#2,96954#2201,603
2004#2,39671#1852,066
2003#2,08485#1812,170
2002#1,564119#1253,118
2001#1,540120#993,859
2000#1,262155#2341,465
1999#1,309138#2241,507
1998#1,77488#2201,456
1997#1,71890#2291,357
1996#1,551102#2251,344
1995#1,474108#2091,411
1994#1,229142#2001,449
1993#1,271134#2001,519
1992#1,138155#1971,574
1991#1,328124#2021,515
1990#1,265129#2451,129
1989#1,414105#2501,032
1988#1,384102#255922
1987#1,098138#257870
1986#1,142125#253891
1985#1,030146#286715
1984#1,080129#276759
1983#1,42382#300656
1982#2,90131#360494
1981#4,34417#539242
1980#2,86631#531262
1979#2,93129#478298
1978#3,09825#479289
1977#2,21641#467298
1976#2,09941#432320
1975#2,06042#413350
1974#2,06640#435330
1973#2,68926#445309
1972#3,06221#551209
1971#3,37319#559209
1970#3,31119#695142
1969#4,19812#84183
1968#4,48910#84474
1967—#1,15042
1966—#1,21638
1965#5,8176#1,36032
1964#6,0096#1,46229
1963#5,8916#1,35433
1962#5,8606#1,54626
1961—#1,23341
1960—#1,40032
1959#6,2455#1,46729
1958#6,1035#1,67722
1957#6,0865#1,41131
1956#5,9525#1,48028
1955#3,09514#1,53825
1954#5,1486#1,76219
1953#3,9559#1,90017
1952#3,7969#1,48526
1951—#2,05514
1950#4,3157#2,01914
1949—#1,50124
1948—#1,46025
1947—#1,85017
1946—#2,6908
1945—#1,77215
1944—#1,73816
1943—#2,40510
1942—#2,5239
1941—#2,8727
1940—#3,1306
1939—#2,4499
1938—#2,32610
1937—#2,9057
1936—#2,8547
1935—#2,39610
1934—#3,2776
1933—#3,2686
1932—#3,7765
1931—#3,7635
1930—#3,0228
1929—#3,9595
1928—#2,8439
1927—#2,70310
1926—#3,1398
1925—#3,1558
1924—#3,0239
1923—#3,4677
1922—#3,2528
1921—#2,37613
1920—#2,33613
1919—#3,1158
1918—#3,3687
1917—#2,7329
1916—#2,9268
1915——
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1911——
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1889——
1888—#1,0315
1887——
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1880——
First appearance
1888

The first year at least five boys were named Colby! It came in at #1,031, and was given to 5 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1888–1915, when fewer than 6 boys a year got the name.

Where Colby is popular in 1990

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #175 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 883 boysAKMaine: #99 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 502 boysMEVermont: #91 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 419 boysVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Colby, so not publishedNHWashington: #138 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 833 boysWAIdaho: #144 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 760 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Colby, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Colby, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #424 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 6,345 boysMNIllinois: #546 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 5,948 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Colby, so not publishedWIMichigan: #734 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 11,835 boysMINew York: #475 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 4,959 boysNYMassachusetts: #182 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,693 boysMARhode Island: #167 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,332 boysRIOregon: #123 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 674 boysORNevada: #229 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,437 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Colby, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Colby, so not publishedSDIowa: #158 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,029 boysIAIndiana: #370 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 4,052 boysINOhio: #457 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 6,139 boysOHPennsylvania: #226 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 2,110 boysPANew Jersey: #532 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 6,846 boysNJConnecticut: #204 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,736 boysCTCalifornia: #435 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 4,207 boysCAUtah: #75 for boys · 60 births · 1 in 278 boysUTColorado: #200 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,357 boysCONebraska: #127 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 682 boysNEMissouri: #166 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 1,186 boysMOKentucky: #160 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,181 boysKYWest Virginia: #218 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,103 boysWVVirginia: #281 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 2,282 boysVAMaryland: #317 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,552 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Colby, so not publishedDEArizona: #435 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,847 boysAZNew Mexico: #362 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,284 boysNMKansas: #115 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 564 boysKSArkansas: #91 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 408 boysARTennessee: #145 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 914 boysTNNorth Carolina: #211 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 1,485 boysNCSouth Carolina: #269 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,867 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Colby, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #130 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 662 boysOKLouisiana: #101 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 512 boysLAMississippi: #151 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 746 boysMSAlabama: #109 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 589 boysALGeorgia: #227 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 1,433 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Colby, so not publishedHITexas: #197 for boys · 155 births · 1 in 989 boysTXFlorida: #292 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 2,084 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Utah#75 · 1 in 278
  2. Arkansas#91 · 1 in 408
  3. Vermont#91 · 1 in 419
  4. Maine#99 · 1 in 502
  5. Louisiana#101 · 1 in 512

Best ever in a state: #15 in Maine, 2002.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#75601 in 278
Arkansas#91381 in 408
Vermont#9181 in 419
Maine#99151 in 502
Louisiana#101611 in 512
Alabama#109461 in 589
Kansas#115301 in 564
Oregon#123301 in 674
Nebraska#127161 in 682
Oklahoma#130311 in 662
Washington#138431 in 833
Idaho#14491 in 760
Tennessee#145391 in 914
Mississippi#151231 in 746
Iowa#158181 in 1,029
Kentucky#160211 in 1,181
Missouri#166321 in 1,186
Rhode Island#16751 in 1,332
Alaska#17551 in 883
Massachusetts#182261 in 1,693
Texas#1971551 in 989
Colorado#200181 in 1,357
Connecticut#204131 in 1,736
North Carolina#211321 in 1,485
West Virginia#21851 in 2,103
Pennsylvania#226391 in 2,110
Georgia#227351 in 1,433
Nevada#22961 in 1,437
South Carolina#269131 in 1,867
Virginia#281191 in 2,282
Florida#292441 in 2,084
Maryland#317131 in 2,552
New Mexico#36251 in 2,284
Indiana#370101 in 4,052
Minnesota#42451 in 6,345
Arizona#43581 in 3,847
California#435691 in 4,207
Ohio#457131 in 6,139
New York#475281 in 4,959
New Jersey#53281 in 6,846
Illinois#546151 in 5,948
Michigan#73461 in 11,835
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Montana———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
South Dakota———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Colby
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 32 spots since 2024 (#583 → #615)
  • 3 spots since 2020 (#618 → #615)
  • 159 spots since 2015 (#456 → #615)
  • Biggest jump: 306 spots in 1968 (#1,150 → #844)
  • Biggest drop: 73 spots in 2016 (#456 → #529)
Rise & fade · boys
113 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1888
  • Peaked 2001 at #99 (3,859 births)
  • Births halved by 2005, 4 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 1 yr
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 1 yr · 2001
  • Top 1,000: 58 yrs · run 1968–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 503
  • Highest: 1 in 503 boys born in 2001 were named Colby (0.20%)
  • Latest: 1 in 3,754 boys born in 2025 (0.03%)
Era · boys
The 2000s
  • 35.5% of all boys named Colby (19,182) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Never flipped
  • The majority has never changed
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s5#1,031 (1888)#1,031
1890s0——
1900s0——
1910s32#2,732 (1917)#3,035
1920s90#2,336 (1920)#3,025
1930s73#2,326 (1938)#3,004
1940s137#1,460 (1948)#2,194
1950s225#1,411 (1957)#1,679
1960s430#841 (1969)#1,241
1970s2,754#413 (1975)#495
1980s6,843#250 (1989)#331
1990s14,261#197 (1992)#215
2000s19,182#99 (2001)#216
2010s7,199#280 (2010)#454
2020s2,740#583 (2024)#612

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Colby in 1990

girls
#1,265
129 births · 1 in 14,717 girls
boys
#245
1,129 births · 1 in 1,819 boys

Top girls' names in 1990

  1. #1Jessica46,486
  2. #2Ashley45,561
  3. #3Brittany36,536
  4. #4Amanda34,413
  5. #5Samantha25,868
  6. #6Sarah25,824
  7. #7Stephanie24,864
  8. #8Jennifer22,236
  9. #9Elizabeth20,750
  10. #10Lauren20,506
  11. #1,265Colby129

Top boys' names in 1990

  1. #1Michael65,321
  2. #2Christopher52,362
  3. #3Matthew44,826
  4. #4Joshua43,237
  5. #5Daniel33,830
  6. #6David33,748
  7. #7Andrew33,673
  8. #8James32,359
  9. #9Justin30,649
  10. #10Joseph30,137
  11. #245Colby1,129
More about 1990

girls

1,898,547 girls got a published name in 1990; 1 in 14,717 of them was named Colby, which outranked 91.7% of the 15,234 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Colby
  1. #1,257Nakita130
  2. #1,257Rosario130
  3. #1,257Shasta130
  4. #1,265Colby129
  5. #1,265Cathleen129
  6. #1,265Eugenia129
  7. #1,265Ladonna129
  8. #1,272Colette128
  9. #1,272Courtnee128
  10. #1,272Jayne128

Tied with 6 names at #1,265; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1989
Risers
  1. ↑ 5,592Alannah#6,531 → #939
  2. ↑ 1,178Symone#1,998 → #820
  3. ↑ 869Shelbi#1,750 → #881
  4. ↑ 831Latifah#1,532 → #701
  5. ↑ 828Skyler#1,564 → #736
Fallers
  1. ↓ 2,554Elizabet#524 → #3,078
  2. ↓ 1,572Katherin#717 → #2,289
  3. ↓ 652Stephani#390 → #1,042
  4. ↓ 504Ashanti#893 → #1,397
  5. ↓ 416Audrianna#759 → #1,175

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

2,054,038 boys got a published name in 1990; 1 in 1,819 of them was named Colby, which outranked 97.4% of the 9,493 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 19.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Colby
  1. #242Wayne1,148
  2. #243Elijah1,139
  3. #244Abraham1,135
  4. #245Colby1,129
  5. #246Darrell1,128
  6. #247Jamal1,112
  7. #248Cole1,100
Biggest movers since 1989
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,636Tevin#4,017 → #381
  2. ↑ 3,283Keenen#4,271 → #988
  3. ↑ 1,325Male#2,027 → #702
  4. ↑ 1,032Denzel#1,476 → #444
  5. ↑ 598Kevon#1,476 → #878
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,130Kiara#956 → #2,086
  2. ↓ 916Rachel#993 → #1,909
  3. ↓ 855Nicole#985 → #1,840
  4. ↓ 746Tiffany#956 → #1,702
  5. ↓ 681Sarah#819 → #1,500

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1990 →