Bobby

♂ Boy

Pronounced BOB-ee /ˈbɒb.i/High

Meaning: Bright fame; famous; English pet form of Robert, from Germanic Hrodebert (hrod: fame + beraht: bright)High

In 30 seconds: An English pet form of Robert meaning 'bright fame.' Bobby Kennedy, Bobby Fischer, and Bobby Orr all bear this name — America's most-decorated, game-changing Bobby trio across law, chess, and hockey.

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Origin HighGermanic, English

MeaningBright fame; famous; English pet form of Robert, from Germanic Hrodebert (hrod: fame + beraht: bright)

U.S. rank (2025)#1097 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births195 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1937

Total births (all-time)≈ 315,043

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

Bobby is an English diminutive of Robert, from Germanic Hrodebert (fame + bright). The tradition of using rhyming B-initials for R-names (Richard → Dick, Robert → Bob → Bobby) is an English medieval convention.

Bobby was in the U.S. top 10 from 1934–1961 and has declined. It ranked #1123 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Bobby Fischer (1943–2008) won the 1972 World Chess Championship against Soviet champion Boris Spassky in one of the Cold War's most dramatic symbolic contests — the 'Match of the Century' was watched by millions who knew nothing of chess.

Overall data confidence 93%

Behind the Name — Bobby — Germanic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

RobertBob

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Bobby Kennedy (1925–1968)
U.S. Attorney General and Senator, brother of President John F. Kennedy. Assassinated during his 1968 presidential campaign.

If you like Bobby…

Billy— two-syllable -y ending nickname-name from the same mid-century tradition

Jimmy— two-syllable -y ending diminutive from the same era

Johnny— two-syllable -y ending diminutive from the same generation

Richie— two-syllable -ie ending diminutive from the same mid-century wave

Teddy— two-syllable -y ending diminutive from the same tradition

Explore names like Bobby

By themeenglish two-syllable germanic diminutive mid-century

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bobby mean?

Bobby means 'bright fame,' as an English pet form of Robert, from Germanic Hrodebert (hrod: fame + beraht: bright).

How do you pronounce Bobby?

It's said BOB-ee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bobby a boy or girl name?

Bobby is used primarily as a boys' name.

How popular is Bobby?

Bobby ranked #1123 for U.S. boys in 2024.