Total births
1,698
Unisex name · since 1924
Tobey
Tobey has 1,698 recorded births since 1924 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2003 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #8417
- among boys today
- 1,698
- born since 1924
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 41%
- more common than other boys
Tobey currently ranks #8417 among unisex names in America, with 1,698 babies recorded since 1924.
Social Security Administration records show Tobey recorded 1,698 times among boys since 1924, holding rank #8417 nationally today, ahead of 41% 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 1924 to 2025.
- #8417 among boys today
- 1,698 born since 1924
- 2000s peak decade
- 41% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Tobey is currently the #8417 unisex name in America, more common than 41% of boys - 1,698 born since 1924, peaking in the 2000s.
- #8417
- among boys today
- 1,698
- born since 1924
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 41%
- more common than other boys
Tobey vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#8417
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 41% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Tobey was born in this single decade.
2003
Single peak year
85 babies were named Tobey in 2003 - its busiest year on record.
How Tobey compares
1,698 Top 23% higher than 77% 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
Tobey's all-time total is 5x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Tobey | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,698 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 85 | 23 | 22,252 |
Tobey's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Tobey's full recorded timeline at 1983, 56% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 44% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1924, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 2003 peak of 85 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Tobey at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2003
Current rank
#8,417
Active since
1924
Tobey popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1924–2025
- Peak year (2003)
- 85
- Annual births at peak, across 102 years of records
Tobey popularity over time - girls
758 total births recorded since 1914 (Tobey as girls' name)
Tobey by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Tobey's strongest decade.
495 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Tobey births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 5
1920s
5 births
- 1940s 59
1940s
59 births
- 1950s 103
1950s
103 births
- 1960s 150
1960s
150 births
- 1970s
1970s
375 births
- 1980s 144
1980s
144 births
- 1990s 112
1990s
112 births
- 2000s
2000s
495 births
- 2010s 196
2010s
196 births
- 2020s 59
2020s
59 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 495 births (29% of all-time use).
How Tobey 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 Tobey's total volume
Tobey vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Tobey by state
Where Tobey concentrates geographically, total births since 1924
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 79 | 4.7% |
| #2 | Texas | | 38 | 2.2% |
| #3 | New York | | 19 | 1.1% |
| #4 | Maine | | 6 | 0.4% |
| #5 | Florida | | 5 | 0.3% |
California share of Tobey's total US births 4.7%
Even split
79 of 1,698 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Tobey? ▼
Tobey has been given to 1,698 babies in the U.S. since 1924, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #8417 as of the latest data. 85 babies were born in 2003, its single highest year.
When was Tobey most popular? ▼
Tobey was most popular in the 2000s decade with 495 total births. The single peak year was 2003.
Where is Tobey most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Tobey are California (79 births), Texas (38 births), New York (19 births).
Is Tobey a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Tobey is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,698 births, and as a girl's name it has 758 births.
How long has the name Tobey been used? ▼
Records for Tobey go back to 1924, giving 102 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Tobey? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Toby, Tobias, Tobin, Tobe, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Tobey's data
- Tobey's decade-level peak was the 2000s (495 total births); usage has since declined to 59 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Tobeys (79 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Tobey
Nearby Names Like Tobey
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Tobey
Toby Boy
#1099 34,846 births
Tobias Boy
#280 29,322 births
Tobin Boy
#2800 5,570 births
Tobe Boy
949 births
Tobie Boy
931 births
Compare Tobey side by side: Tobey vs Toby Tobey vs Tobias Tobey vs Tobin
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Tobey
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1924–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Tobey: #8417 Unisex Name - 1,698 Births, Peak 2003." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/tobey. 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 Tobey 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 July 2026.