Bobbi

♀ Girl

Pronounced BAHB-ee /ˈbɑb.i/Medium

Meaning: Pet form of Roberta (from Germanic Hrodebert, 'bright fame') and sometimes of Barbara (Greek 'foreign'). Used as a standalone girl's name from the mid-20th century.Medium

In 30 seconds: Bobbi is an English pet form of Roberta — from Germanic Hrodebert, 'bright fame' — used on its own since the mid-20th century.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningPet form of Roberta (from Germanic Hrodebert, 'bright fame') and sometimes of Barbara (Greek 'foreign'). Used as a standalone girl's name from the mid-20th century.

U.S. rank (2025)#1834 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births109 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1971

Total births (all-time)≈ 24,217

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The record roots Bobbi in Roberta, from the Germanic Hrodebert meaning 'bright fame', and sometimes in Barbara, from the Greek for 'foreign'. It moved from nickname to standalone girl's name from the mid-1900s. Bearers include makeup artist Bobbi Brown and runner Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon.

The -i ending gives it a breezy, friendly tone that helped it stand alone. Its listed nickname-style forms like Babs and Barbie point back to the Barbara side of its family.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Bobbi is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Bobbi — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

BabeBabsBarbBarbieBirdie

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Bobbi Brown (b. 1957)
American makeup artist, author and founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics; named to Time's 100 most influential people in 2025.
★Bobbi Gibb (b. 1942)
American runner who in 1966 became the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon.

If you like Bobbi…

Roberta— The full name Bobbi is a pet form of, carrying 'bright fame'.

Barbara— The other source the record links Bobbi to.

Baylee— a fellow English choice

Blessing— shares Bobbi's English roots

Blakeleigh— a fellow English choice

Explore names like Bobbi

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bobbi mean?

Bobbi is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Bobbi?

It's commonly said BAHB-ee /ˈbɑb.i/.

Is Bobbi a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Bobbi is used as a girl name.

How popular is Bobbi?

In 2024, Bobbi ranked #2008 in the U.S. for girls, with 97 births recorded.