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Colby

Girl / Boy name · 268 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Colby: 268 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 27 births in 2024.

Colby is an English surname turned first name, originally a place name rooted in Old Norse: it combines the personal name *Koli* or *Cola* with *býr*, meaning "settlement" or "farmstead," so the name essentially means "Cola's village." Famous modern bearers include American mixed martial artist Colby Covington and former MLB outfielder Colby Rasmus, lending the name a sporty edge. Several towns in the United States bear the name, most notably Colby, Kansas, and Colby, Wisconsin—the latter giving its name to the mild, orange Colby cheese, a happy culinary coincidence. As a given name, Colby has a friendly, approachable sound, especially popular in the 1990s, and sits comfortably alongside other surname-style names like Shelby or Riley for both boys and girls.

Girl 3 of 52 years

Peak year
19974 babies
Latest (2003)
#6673 babies
Total births
11since 1997
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 1997 · 4
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).

Boy 23 of 52 years

Peak year
202427 babies
Latest (2025)
#27813 babies
Total births
257since 2002
5-year trend
▲ 47%vs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 · 27
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).