Colby

♀ Girl

Pronounced KOHL-bee /ˈkoʊl.bi/High

Meaning: From Koli's farm or settlement; an English place name and surname of Old Norse originHigh

In 30 seconds: A crisp English surname-name with Old Norse roots, long used for boys and now crossing to girls. Its friendly -by ending fits right in with Shelby and Kelsey.

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Origin HighOld Norse, English

MeaningFrom Koli's farm or settlement; an English place name and surname of Old Norse origin

U.S. rank (2025)#2828 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births60 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1992

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,183

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

Colby began as an English place name in the Danelaw regions settled by Vikings, combining the Old Norse personal name Koli — likely a nickname for a dark or coal-haired man — with býr, 'farm' or 'settlement'. From the place name came a surname, and from the surname a given name.

As a first name Colby grew in America through the late twentieth century, helped along by soap-opera characters and reality TV contestants, and like many surname names it gradually picked up use for daughters as well as sons. For girls it remains a rare, sporty choice.

Did you know? Colby cheese takes its name from the small town of Colby, Wisconsin, where it was first made in the 1880s.

Overall data confidence 90%

Behind the Name — Colby — etymologyOxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland — surname origin

Variations

KolbyColbieKolbie

Nicknames

Cole

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Colby…

Shelby— a fellow English place-surname with the same -by ending, also adopted for girls

Kelsey— another Old English surname-name that crossed fully to girls

Aubrey— a once-male name that made the same boy-to-girl journey

Harley— shares the tomboyish surname style now common for daughters

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Colby mean?

Colby comes from an English place name meaning 'Koli's farm or settlement', built on an Old Norse personal name plus byr, 'farm'.

How do you pronounce Colby?

It's said KOHL-bee /ˈkoʊl.bi/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Colby a boy or girl name?

Colby is used for both sexes; it is more common for boys, and this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Colby?

Colby is a rare choice for girls in the U.S., giving it an offbeat, sporty appeal.