Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1916

Tobe

Meaning A male given name, diminutive of Toby Gender Boy · 3% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists

A male given name, diminutive of Toby.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Tobe
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1916
20 babies
All-time total
978
#5,301 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Tobe popularity over time

978 babies have been named Tobe since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.050.10.150.218801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – 121 121 12 – #440
1890s – 91 91 9 -25% #625
1900s – 58 58 6 -36% #730
1910s – 136 136 14 +134% #780
1920s – 108 108 11 -21% #2,089
1930s – 55 55 6 -49% #1,954
1940s 5 66 71 7 +29% #2,446
1950s 5 42 47 5 -34% #2,482
1960s 8 55 63 6 +34% #2,724
1970s 11 91 102 10 +62% #2,931
1980s – 25 25 3 -75% #5,433
1990s – 15 15 2 -40% #7,220
2000s – 50 50 5 +233% #8,378
2010s – 20 20 2 -60% #9,577
2020s (to 2025) – 16 16 3 +33% #12,174

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.

How old are people named Tobe?

The median living Tobe is about 51 years old; half are between 26 and 64. An estimated 400 people named Tobe are alive in the United States today.

median 51 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Tobe Hooper Tobe Hooper American filmmaker (1943–2017) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Tobe, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Tobe?

The median living Tobe is about 51 years old. Half of all living Tobes are between 26 and 64 years old.

How many people named Tobe are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Tobe are alive in the United States, based on 978 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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).

Names like Tobe

Names that sound and feel close to Tobe: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Tobe with similar names → More names starting with T →