Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Kirby
UnisexEnglish, Old Norse· “church settlement; English place name”
- Meaning
- church settlement; English place name
- Origin
- English, Old Norse
- Pronunciation
- KUR-bee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,278
- US babies 2025
- 36
- Best rank
- #398 (1954)
- Peak year
- 1957
Meaning and origin of Kirby
Kirby is an English and Old Norse name that means “church settlement; English place name”.
Kirby comes from an English place name of Old Norse origin, combining kirkja, church, and býr, settlement or farm. Many villages in northern England, where Viking settlers lived, bear the name, and it became a surname and then a given name. It is used for both boys and girls. It is pronounced KUR-bee. Many people know it from Nintendo's round pink video game character or from the Kirby vacuum cleaner brand, but it also has a solid history as a surname. Kirby has a sporty, friendly style similar to Kirk and Colby.
Other spellings with the same sound: Kerby.
Popularity over time
Kirby first appears in US Social Security records in 1881. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 110 different years, starting in 1881. Its best national rank was #398 in 1954, and the most babies received it in 1957, when 357 were named Kirby. In 2025, 36 babies were named Kirby, and it ranked #3,278 nationally. That is 34% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #892 in 1920, #442 in 1950, #875 in 1980, #1,622 in 2000, #2,492 in 2010, and #3,278 in 2025. Of the 14,532 US boys named Kirby since records began, 21% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 2,351 babies. Since 2010, 741 more have been named Kirby.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Michel, Audie, Carey, and Jaye.
Gender, sound and spelling
Kirby is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 44% of US babies named Kirby were girls and 56% were boys.
Kirby is usually pronounced KUR-bee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with K and ends in “-by”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Kerby.
Middle names for Kirby
A few middle names that flow with Kirby: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kirby
Similar names
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Lists that include Kirby
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kirby mean?
Kirby is an English and Old Norse name that means “church settlement; English place name”.
What is the origin of the name Kirby?
Kirby has English and Old Norse roots. Kirby comes from an English place name of Old Norse origin, combining kirkja, church, and býr, settlement or farm.
Is Kirby a popular name?
Not especially. Kirby ranked #3,278 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Kirby a boy or girl name?
Kirby is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 44% of US babies named Kirby were girls and 56% were boys.
How do you pronounce Kirby?
Kirby is usually pronounced KUR-bee. 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