Tobe
A male given name, diminutive of Toby.
Every Tobe since 1880 — 978 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Tobe
Tobe is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1880, 978 American babies have been named Tobe. Its peak came in 1916, when 20 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Tobe stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Tobe year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | 6 | #12,174 |
| 2021 | — | — | 5 | #13,894 |
| 2020 | — | — | 5 | #13,867 |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — | 8 | #9,577 |
| 2012 | — | — | 6 | #12,146 |
| 2011 | — | — | 6 | #12,137 |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | 7 | #10,862 |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — | 5 | #14,204 |
| 2006 | — | — | 8 | #9,495 |
| 2005 | — | — | 6 | #11,340 |
| 2004 | — | — | 8 | #8,845 |
| 2003 | — | — | 8 | #8,559 |
| 2002 | — | — | 8 | #8,378 |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | 6 | #6,173 |
| 1975 | — | — | 9 | #3,926 |
| 1970 | — | — | 10 | #3,266 |
| 1965 | — | — | 6 | #3,896 |
| 1960 | — | — | 9 | #3,056 |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | 7 | #3,298 |
| 1945 | 5 | #5,179 | 9 | #2,565 |
| 1940 | — | — | 5 | #3,899 |
| 1935 | — | — | 8 | #2,923 |
| 1930 | — | — | 16 | #1,954 |
| 1925 | — | — | 10 | #2,917 |
| 1920 | — | — | 10 | #2,943 |
| 1915 | — | — | 11 | #2,441 |
| 1910 | — | — | 16 | #780 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | 11 | #833 |
| 1895 | — | — | 9 | #789 |
| 1890 | — | — | 11 | #627 |
| 1885 | — | — | 10 | #637 |
| 1880 | — | — | 15 | #479 |
Famous people named Tobe
- Tobe Hooper Film director · 1943–2017
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tobe mean?
A male given name, diminutive of Toby.
How popular is the name Tobe in 2025?
Tobe did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Tobe?
978 babies have been named Tobe in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Tobe most popular?
Tobe peaked in 1916, when 20 newborns received the name.
Is Tobe a boy or girl name?
Tobe is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 97% of babies with the name.
Is the name Tobe rising or falling?
Tobe is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Tobe?
Well-known people named Tobe include Tobe Hooper (film director).