Kerby

♂ Boy

Pronounced KUR-bee /ˈkɜːr.bi/Medium

Meaning: A spelling of Kirby, from Old Norse elements kirkja, 'church', and byr, 'settlement; village', giving 'church settlement'. A surname name we note.Low

In 30 seconds: A surname name: Kerby is a spelling of Kirby, 'church settlement' (said 'KUR-bee').

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Origin MediumEnglish, Norse

MeaningA spelling of Kirby, from Old Norse elements kirkja, 'church', and byr, 'settlement; village', giving 'church settlement'. A surname name we note.

U.S. rank (2025)#13020 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1961

Total births (all-time)≈ 884

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

Kerby is a spelling of Kirby, an English surname from Old Norse kirkja, 'church', and byr, 'settlement; village'. It began as a place and surname name and reads modern as a first name. A crisp two-beat pick (said 'KUR-bee').

It appears only rarely in the U.S. Rare, surname-style, and crisp.

Did you know? Kerby is a spelling of Kirby, from Old Norse kirkja, 'church', and byr, 'settlement', giving 'church settlement' — a surname name we note (said 'KUR-bee').

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Kerby — spelling of Kirby 'church settlement'

Variations

KirbyKirbeyKerbey

Nicknames

Kerb

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kerby…

Darby— a like -by surname name

Colby— a like -by pick

Crosby— a like surname-style -by choice

Kolby— shares the -by ending

Koby— a fellow English choice

Explore names like Kerby

By themeenglish surname norse

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kerby mean?

Kerby is a spelling of Kirby, from Old Norse for 'church' and 'settlement', giving 'church settlement'.

How do you pronounce Kerby?

It's said KUR-bee /ˈkɜːr.bi/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kerby a boy or girl name?

Kerby is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Kerby?

Kerby is a rare name in the U.S.