Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Bob
BoyEnglish, Germanic· “short form of Robert, bright fame”
- Meaning
- short form of Robert, bright fame
- Origin
- English, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- BAHB
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #9,845
- US babies 2025
- 7
- Best rank
- #75 (1934)
- Peak year
- 1959
Meaning and origin of Bob
Bob is an English and Germanic name that means “short form of Robert, bright fame”.
Bob is a short form of Robert, from the Germanic hrod, fame, and beraht, bright. Robert was carried by kings of Scotland, including Robert the Bruce. Bob developed from Rob by rhyming, a common medieval habit. It has been used as an independent name in the US since the nineteenth century. It is said BAHB. The name is simple, friendly and strongly associated with mid-century America. Bobby and Rob are related nicknames.
Popularity over time
Bob has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 104 different years. Its best national rank was #75 in 1934, and the most babies received it in 1959, when 2,826 were named Bob. In 2025, 7 babies were named Bob, and it ranked #9,845 nationally. That is 50% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #189 in 1920, #204 in 1950, #861 in 1980, #2,871 in 2000, #7,649 in 2010, and #9,845 in 2025. Of the 92,986 US boys named Bob since records began, 25% were born in the 1930s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 21,376 babies. Since 2010, 174 more have been named Bob.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Duane, Brad, Karl, Dave, and Stuart.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Bob is usually pronounced BAHB, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with B and ends in “-ob”.
Middle names for Bob
A few middle names that flow with Bob: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Bob
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Lists that include Bob
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bob mean?
Bob is an English and Germanic name that means “short form of Robert, bright fame”.
What is the origin of the name Bob?
Bob has English and Germanic roots. Bob is a short form of Robert, from the Germanic hrod, fame, and beraht, bright.
Is Bob a popular name?
Not especially. Bob ranked #9,845 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Bob a boy or girl name?
Bob is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Bob?
Bob is usually pronounced BAHB. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings