Toby

Pronunciation: [ t-OHB-ee ]

Girl Name #2,005 Most Popular Hidden Gem 2 Syllables

A warm, vintage name meaning God is good

English American Australian

Vintage Playful Whimsical Gentle Unique

Meaning & Origin

"God is good"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: English

"Yahweh is good"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: Hebrew

The Story of Toby

Toby as a girl's name is an androgynous adaptation of the traditionally male name Toby, itself a medieval English diminutive of Tobias. Tobias derives from the Hebrew name Tobiahu or Toviyyah, meaning 'Yahweh is good' or 'God is good.' The name appears in the biblical Book of Tobit and was popular in medieval England. Using Toby for girls is part of a long tradition of gender-crossing nickname names.

Toby for girls found a pop culture moment with the character Toby from the US TV series 'The West Wing' — though technically male — helping normalize the name. In Britain, Toby has occasionally been used for girls, especially in the mid-20th century.

In Australia and the UK, Toby is considered a warm, approachable name with a slightly old-fashioned charm. As a girl's name, it carries the double appeal of vintage character and modern androgynous style.

Fun Facts

Toby appears in Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' as Sir Toby Belch
The name Tobias appears in both the Old and New Testament Apocrypha
Toby has been used as a girl's name in English literature since at least the 19th century

Toby in Other Languages

Greek Τωβίας

German Tobias

Hebrew טוביה

Italian Tobia

Spanish Tobías

Famous People Named Toby

Toby Young

Writer

1963

British journalist and author of 'How to Lose Friends and Alienate People'

Toby Flenderson Fictional

Other

Fictional HR representative on the US TV show The Office, played by Paul Lieberstein

Quick Facts

Gender: Girl
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #2,005
Total SSA Count: 98
Cultural Origins: English American Australian
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Casual
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Common Nicknames

Tobes Tob

Pairs Well With

Toby Anne Toby Jane Toby Rose Toby Grace Toby Mae Toby Claire Toby Leigh

Sibling Names

Archie Milo Wren Nell Jasper Olive Remy

Also a Boy Name

Toby is also used as a boy name, ranked #1106.

View Toby as a boy name →

Similar Names

Toby Corbin Coda Gigi Colby Kobi Koby Jacoby

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Toby

What does the name Toby mean?

"God is good" (from Hebrew). "Yahweh is good" (from Hebrew). Toby as a girl's name is an androgynous adaptation of the traditionally male name Toby, itself a medieval English diminutive of Tobias. Tobias derives from the Hebrew name Tobiahu or Toviyyah, meaning 'Yahweh is good' or 'God is good.' The name appears in the biblical Book of Tobit and was popular in medieval England. Using Toby for girls is part of a long tradition of gender-crossing nickname names.

What is the origin of the name Toby?

Toby has Hebrew, English, American, and Australian origins. In Hebrew, it means "God is good". In Hebrew, it means "Yahweh is good".

Is Toby a boy or girl name?

Toby is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #2005. As a boy name, it is ranked #1106. Toby is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Toby?

Toby is pronounced t-OHB-ee.

How popular is the name Toby?

Toby is currently ranked #2005 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Toby?

Common nicknames for Toby include Tobes and Tob.

What are good middle names for Toby?

Popular middle name pairings include Toby Anne, Toby Jane, Toby Rose, Toby Grace, Toby Mae, Toby Claire, and Toby Leigh.

What are good sibling names for Toby?

Names that pair well with Toby as siblings include Archie, Milo, Wren, Nell, Jasper, Olive, and Remy.

How many syllables does Toby have?

Toby has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Toby a common or rare name?

Toby is an uncommon name, ranked #2005 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Toby

Toby is a girl name with English, American, and Australian origins . The name means "God is good" in Hebrew .

Is Toby a boy or girl name? Toby is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #2,005 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #1,106. Toby is more commonly used as a boy name.

Toby is currently ranked #2,005 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

The name Toby has 2 syllables and is pronounced t-OHB-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Toby include Tobes and Tob. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.