Colby: Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity

Pronunciation: c-ohlby
Origin: Old Norse/English
gender-male

Emmy Samtani

Emmy Samtani

Emmy is the founder of Kiindred and mother to 3 little ones. Over the last 4 years, she has worked with some of the most credible experts in the parenting space and is a keen contributor on all things parenthood.
Updated on Apr 14, 2025 · 1 min read
Region Origin: Northern Europe
Meaning: Of English origin, meaning "from the dark farm."

The name Colby, derived from the Old Norse words "koli" (meaning 'coal' or 'dark') and "býr" (meaning 'town'), originally referred to someone from a coal town. It has been used both as a surname and a given name. The name's popularity has fluctuated over time, with a notable spike in the United States and Canada in 2001 following the appearance of Colby Donaldson on the reality TV show "Survivor." Colby is a versatile name with various middle names and charming nicknames like Colb, Bee, Cole, Coco, Colbs, and Colbster. Its timeless appeal makes it a popular choice among parents.

Colby Name Popularity Data

chat-overall Colby is currently #518 in the popularity of the name rankings.
gender-female Boy: Colby is currently #518 on Kiindred Boy Names
gender-male Overall Nature: Colby is currently #255 on Kiindred Nature Names
gender-male Boy Nature: Colby is currently #123 on Kiindred Boy Nature Names
gender-male Overall Unique: Colby is currently #261 on Kiindred Unique Names
gender-male Boy Unique: Colby is currently #121 on Kiindred Boy Unique Names

Popularity Trend Chart

Wikipedia, NSW Births Deaths and Marriages, QLD Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, WA Registry of Births, SA Registry of Births, VIC Registry of Births, Social Security Administration

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