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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Coal town, or Koli's settlement
- Origin
- Old Norse/English (place name)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- KOHL-bee
Colby is a boy's name rooted in Old Norse and English place-naming, carrying the meaning "coal town" or "Koli's settlement." It's pronounced KOHL-bee, and it sits in the clean, modern style category. The place-name history behind it gives it a straightforward, grounded feel rather than an abstract one.
Meaning & Origin of Colby
Meaning: Coal town, or Koli's settlement.
Origin: Old Norse/English (place name).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Colby
KOHL-beeIPA /ˈkoʊlbi/
Popularity of Colby
Colby reached its highest point in 2001 at #99, with 3,859 boys given the name that year. By 2024 it had fallen to #582, with 489 babies named Colby — SSA records for the name span 1888 to 2024.
Names Like Colby
These names share Colby’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Colby mean?
Coal town, or Koli’s settlement. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Colby?
Colby is pronounced KOHL-bee (IPA: /ˈkoʊlbi/).
Is Colby a popular name right now?
Colby peaked at #99 in 2001 and is ranked #582 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1888–2024.)
Make Colby Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Colby, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Colby? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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