Bobby
Say it: BOB-ee/ˈbɒbi/
BoyMeans a pet form of Robert, "bright fame"5 letters2 syllables
#30
in Ireland (2025)
#32 with spellings combined
155
babies in 2025
#27
best rank (2020)
3,061
babies since 1980
Up 18
10-year rank change
Bobby through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 155 | #32 |
| 2024 | 179 | #29 |
| 2023 | 157 | #29 |
| 2022 | 170 | #31 |
| 2021 | 179 | #34 |
| 2020 | 185 | #27 |
| 2019 | 215 | #30 |
| 2018 | 165 | #43 |
| 2017 | 161 | #48 |
| 2016 | 165 | #47 |
| 2015 | 158 | #50 |
| 2014 | 152 | #54 |
| 2013 | 146 | #59 |
| 2012 | 141 | #63 |
| 2011 | 133 | #63 |
| 2010 | 127 | #62 |
| 2009 | 96 | #85 |
| 2008 | 72 | #109 |
| 2007 | 66 | #108 |
| 2006 | 48 | #122 |
| 2005 | 55 | #104 |
| 2004 | 30 | #146 |
| 2003 | 17 | #184 |
| 2002 | 10 | #235 |
| 2001 | 8 | #251 |
| 2000 | 3 | #390 |
| 1999 | 5 | #290 |
| 1998 | 3 | #369 |
| 1997 | 7 | #261 |
| 1996 | 4 | #336 |
| 1995 | 4 | #301 |
| 1994 | 5 | #263 |
| 1993 | 6 | #255 |
| 1991 | 3 | #324 |
| 1990 | 3 | #323 |
| 1988 | 4 | #271 |
| 1987 | 5 | #249 |
| 1986 | 6 | #247 |
| 1985 | 6 | #234 |
| 1983 | 4 | #282 |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Bobby mean?
A pet form of Robert, "bright fame"
English, a pet form of Robert, from Bob with the ending -y.
Say it right
BOBee
The story of Bobby
Bobby began as a pet form of Robert: Bob, with the friendly ending -y. Robert is a Germanic name built from words meaning fame and bright, and it came to Britain and Ireland with the Normans. Bobby is also used now and then for girls, as a short form of Roberta.
In Ireland Bobby was first recorded in 1980, but it stayed rare for another twenty years. It took off in the 2000s and reached number 27 in 2020. Its busiest year was 2019, with 215 babies.
It has not caught on in the same way in Northern Ireland, where its best position was 59th, in 2013.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Bobby (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Robert (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Bobby (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Bobby | 155 | 3,061 |
In Northern Ireland
#126 in 2025 with 18 babies. Best rank #59 (2013); 759 babies since 1998.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.