Kirby

At a Glance: Name: Kirby – Meaning: village/settlement with a church – Origin: Old Norse (English place name/surname) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: KUR-bee

---

Kirby is a name with roots in Old Norse, originally used as an English place name and surname meaning "village/settlement with a church." It's pronounced KUR-bee, and today it works as a neutral, clean, modern choice for a child of any gender. If you're drawn to names with a straightforward, place-based history rather than an abstract meaning, Kirby fits that mold.

Meaning & Origin of Kirby

Meaning: Village/settlement with a church.

Origin: Old Norse (English place name/surname).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Kirby

Phonetic: KUR-bee   IPA: /ˈkɜːrbi/

Popularity of Kirby

Kirby had its moment in 1954, reaching #398 with 326 babies given the name that year, but it's fallen off since then — in 2024 it ranked #2539 with just 70 babies.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1881–2024.

Make Kirby Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Kirby, 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.

• Adley
• Arden
• Arrow
• Ash
• Bay
• Bear

FAQ

What does the name Kirby mean?

Village/settlement with a church. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kirby)

How do you pronounce Kirby?

Kirby is pronounced KUR-bee (IPA: /ˈkɜːrbi/).

Is Kirby a popular name right now?

Kirby peaked at #398 in 1954 and is ranked #2539 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name