Colby
Colby is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Koli's settlement, dark-featured settlement, or coal town.
Origin and history
Colby is a unisex name of Old Norse and Old English origin, derived from a placename meaning 'Koli's settlement' or 'coal town'. While more common for boys, it has been steadily used as a given name for girls in the United States since the late 20th century.
Popularity in the United States
4,184 babies in the United States have been named Colby since 1880. It ranks #2720 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1780.
States where it is most popular
- CA (19.6 %)
- TX (12.1 %)
- MA (9.7 %)
- PA (8.3 %)
- FL (7.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 65 |
| 1960-1970 | 46 |
| 1970-1980 | 303 |
| 1980-1990 | 906 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,210 |
| 2000-2010 | 858 |
| 2010-2019 | 475 |
| 2020-2029 | 321 |
Famous people named Colby
- Colby Caillat: Singer, Songwriter
- Colby O'Donis: Singer, Songwriter
Fun facts
- The name originally designated someone from various villages in England named Colby, combining 'Koli' (a Old Norse nickname for a dark-complexioned person) with 'býr' (settlement).
- Although more widely given to boys in the U.S., Colby has maintained a consistent presence as a female name since the late 1970s.