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Kolby

Boy name · 31 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kolby: 31 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 7 births in 2014.

Kolby is a modern variant of Colby, which has Old Norse origins. It derives from the Old Norse personal name *Koli* (meaning "coal black" or "swarthy") combined with *býr* ("farm" or "settlement"), so it originally signified "Koli's farm" or a dark, coal-black settlement. The name became familiar through the English Colby cheese, first produced in Leicestershire. Notable bearers include American Football player Kolby Listenbee and Scottish footballer Kolby Laing. The name remains less common in Scotland than in the United States—but it is given most often in the Central Belt, particularly in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas. While Kolby is clearly a variant of Colby, its distinct spelling gives it a more modern, surname-style feel that fits the trend for Irish-sounding surnames as first names.