Koby

BoyHebrew, English· “short form of Jacob; supplanter”

Meaning
short form of Jacob; supplanter
Origin
Hebrew, English
Pronunciation
KOH-bee
Syllables
2
US rank 2025
#2,174
US babies 2025
66
Best rank
#533 (2000)
Peak year
2000

Meaning and origin of Koby

Koby is a Hebrew and English name that means “short form of Jacob; supplanter”.

Koby is a short form of Jacob, which comes from the Hebrew Yaakov and is usually interpreted as supplanter or one who follows. In Hebrew, Kobi is a common diminutive, and Koby is an English-friendly spelling of it. The name has a friendly, sporty feel and a relaxed rhythm that suits a modern boy. It can stand alone or serve as a nickname for Jacob or Jacoby. It fits alongside names like Toby and Cody, and its roots give it a quiet link to one of the patriarchs of the Hebrew Bible.

Other spellings with the same sound: Coby, Cobey.

Popularity over time

01252503755001960198020002020Peak 2000: 411
US babies named Koby per year, 1880 to 2025

Koby first appears in US Social Security records in 1958. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 8 different years, starting in 1997. Its best national rank was #533 in 2000, the same year it reached its highest count of 411 babies. In 2025, 66 babies were named Koby, and it ranked #2,174 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.

Its national rank moved from #2,491 in 1980, #533 in 2000, #1,273 in 2010, and #2,174 in 2025. Of the 6,038 US boys named Koby since records began, 42% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 1,412 babies. Since 2010, 1,533 more have been named Koby.

Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Keyshawn, Shamar, Alvaro, Keshawn, and Agustin.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Koby ranked highest in Texas.

StateRank thereBabies
Texas#18439

Gender, sound and spelling

About 98% of US babies named Koby over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.

Koby is usually pronounced KOH-bee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with K and ends in “-by”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Coby and Cobey.

Middle names for Koby

A few middle names that flow with Koby: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
#6
John Boy
JAHN
“Yahweh is gracious” · Hebrew
#23
Leo Boy
LEE-oh
“lion” · Latin
#19
Rowan Unisex
ROH-uhn
“little red one; rowan tree” · Irish
#59

Sibling names for Koby

Similar names

Toby Boy
TOH-bee
“God is good” · English
#979
Colby Boy
KOHL-bee
“from an English place name” · English
#615
Bobby Boy
BOB-ee
“short for Robert, bright fame” · English
#1,097
Kirby Unisex
KUR-bee
“church settlement; English place name” · English
#3,278
Jonny Boy
JAH-nee
“pet form of John, "God is gracious"” · English
#3,407
Sampson Boy
SAM-sun
“variant of Samson; sun” · English
#3,435
Mitchell Boy
MIH-chuhl
“form of Michael” · English
#954
Mathew Boy
MATH-yoo
“gift of Yahweh” · Hebrew
#975
Sammy Boy
SA-mee
“pet form of Samuel; God has heard” · English
#1,864
Jessy Unisex
JEH-see
“pet form of Jessica or Jesse” · English
#5,300
Benji Boy
BEN-jee
“diminutive of Benjamin, son of the right hand” · Hebrew
#1,341
Johnny Boy
JAH-nee
“God is gracious” · English
#458

Lists that include Koby

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Koby mean?

Koby is a Hebrew and English name that means “short form of Jacob; supplanter”.

What is the origin of the name Koby?

Koby has Hebrew and English roots. Koby is a short form of Jacob, which comes from the Hebrew Yaakov and is usually interpreted as supplanter or one who follows.

Is Koby a popular name?

Not especially. Koby ranked #2,174 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.

Is Koby a boy or girl name?

Koby is mainly a boy's name. About 98% of US babies named Koby over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.

How do you pronounce Koby?

Koby is usually pronounced KOH-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