Colby

At a Glance: Name: Colby – Meaning: coal town, or Koli's settlement – Origin: Old Norse/English (place name) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: KOHL-bee

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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

Phonetic: KOHL-bee   IPA: /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.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name 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.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Archer
• Ashton
• Axton
• Boston
• Braxton
• Braylon

FAQ

What does the name Colby mean?

Coal town, or koli’s settlement. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Colby)

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.)

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