Given name & surname
Colby
“from the coal town”
Colby is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the coal town.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the coal town.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1888. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Colby through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 58,155
- 53,971 boys · 4,184 girls
- Most popular year
- 2001
- 3,979 babies
- 2025
- 515
- #615 for boys · #2,828 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- 0%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 90% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 455 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 615 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 3,859 in 2001. It also appeared in 60 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (29). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 49,553 as a first name in 2020; 10,566 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Colby’s family of names
In English usage, Colby has a related form in Kolby. In English usage, Colby has a related form in Colbie. Colby has a related form in Colbie.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Colby
- Seth RollinsAmerican professional wrestler and actorborn 1986
- Colby O'DonisAmerican singerborn 1989
- Colby CovingtonAmerican mixed martial artist (born 1988)
- Colby MinifieAmerican actressborn 1992
- Colby StevensonAmerican freestyle skierborn 1997
- Colby CaveCanadian ice hockey player1994–2020
- Colby SlaterAmerican rugby union player (1896-1965)
- Colby ArmstrongCanadian ice hockey playerborn 1982
- Colby LewisAmerican baseball playerborn 1979
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Colby, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cole
“a swarthy woman; having coal-black hair” · “having dark features; having coal-black hair”
>99% boys
Conner
“lover of hounds” · “a wolf-lover”
99% boys · 1% girls
Kody
“one who is helpful”
93% boys · 7% girls
Cody
“one who is helpful; a wealthy woman” · “acting as a cushion”
98% boys · 2% girls
Kolton
“from the coal town”
>99% boys
Cade
“a precocious young woman” · “one who is round”
>99% boys
Quinton
“from the queen's town or settlement”
>99% boys
Jalen
“one who is calm; a healer” · “one who heals others; one who is tranquil”
99% boys · 1% girls