Total births
53,971
Unisex name · since 1888
Colby
Colby has 53,971 recorded births since 1888 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2001 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #583
- among boys today
- 53,971
- born since 1888
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 96%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Colby is the #583 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 53,971 recorded since 1888.
Social Security Administration records show Colby recorded 53,971 times among boys since 1888, holding rank #583 nationally today, ahead of 96% of boys, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1888 to 2025.
- #583 among boys today
- 53,971 born since 1888
- 2000s peak decade
- 96% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Colby is currently the #583 unisex name in America, more common than 96% of boys - 53,971 born since 1888, peaking in the 2000s.
- #583
- among boys today
- 53,971
- born since 1888
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 96%
- more common than other boys
Colby vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#583
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 96% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
36% of everyone ever named Colby was born in this single decade.
2001
Single peak year
3,859 babies were named Colby in 2001 - its busiest year on record.
How Colby compares
53,971 Top 3% higher than 97% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Colby's all-time total is 147x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Colby | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 53,971 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 3,859 | 23 | 22,252 |
Colby's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Colby's SSA record in two at 1970 and the more recent half accounts for 98% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 2%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1888, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2001 peak of 3,859, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Colby at a glance
Top 1,000 boys' namePeak year
2001
Current rank
#583
Active since
1888
Colby popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1888–2025
- Peak year (2001)
- 3,859
- Annual births at peak, across 138 years of records
Colby popularity over time - girls
4,184 total births recorded since 1950 (Colby as girls' name)
Colby by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Colby's strongest decade.
19,182 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 36% of all-time use.
Colby births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1910s 32
1910s
32 births
- 1920s 90
1920s
90 births
- 1930s 73
1930s
73 births
- 1940s 137
1940s
137 births
- 1950s 225
1950s
225 births
- 1960s 430
1960s
430 births
- 1970s 2,754
1970s
2,754 births
- 1980s 6,843
1980s
6,843 births
- 1990s
1990s
14,261 births
- 2000s
2000s
19,182 births
- 2010s 7,199
2010s
7,199 births
- 2020s 2,740
2020s
2,740 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 19,182 births (36% of all-time use).
How Colby compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Colby's total volume
Colby vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Colby by state
Where Colby concentrates geographically, total births since 1888
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 5,752 | 10.7% |
| #2 | California | | 3,526 | 6.5% |
| #3 | Florida | | 2,248 | 4.2% |
| #4 | North Carolina | | 2,192 | 4.1% |
| #5 | Pennsylvania | | 2,112 | 3.9% |
| #6 | Georgia | | 1,995 | 3.7% |
| #7 | Louisiana | | 1,902 | 3.5% |
| #8 | Utah | | 1,790 | 3.3% |
Texas share of Colby's total US births 10.7%
Even split
5,752 of 53,971 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 50 reporting states.
Colby appears in 50 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Colby? ▼
Since 1888, Social Security records show 53,971 babies named Colby. Today it holds rank #583 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2001, with 3,859 births.
When was Colby most popular? ▼
Colby was most popular in the 2000s decade with 19,182 total births. The single peak year was 2001.
Where is Colby most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Colby are Texas (5,752 births), California (3,526 births), Florida (2,248 births).
Is Colby a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Colby is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 53,971 births, and as a girl's name it has 4,184 births.
How long has the name Colby been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Colby since 1888 -- 138 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Colby? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Cole, Colton, Colin, Collin, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Colby's data
- Colby's decade-level peak was the 2000s (19,182 total births); usage has since declined to 2,740 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Colbys (5,752 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Colby
Nearby Names Like Colby
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Colby
Cole Boy
#163 154,093 births
Colton Boy
#98 151,965 births
Colin Boy
#335 133,706 births
Collin Boy
#490 81,437 births
Colt Boy
#277 27,869 births
Compare Colby side by side: Colby vs Cole Colby vs Colton Colby vs Colin
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Colby
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1888–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Colby: #583 Unisex Name - 53,971 Births, Peak 2001." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/colby. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Colby draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.