Bob: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “bright fame”
- Origin
- English
- Say it
- BAHB · 1 syllable
- Used for
- Boys
Diminutive of Robert, from Germanic Hrodebert: hrod 'fame' + berht 'bright'. Often used as a familiar short form rather than an official given name.
How popular is Bob?
Babies named Bob in 20247
Peak year1934
Total US babies since 188093,300
Bob is fading: recent use is about 66% of its level ten years before.
Names like Bob
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Bob questions
What does the name Bob mean?
Bob means "bright fame". It comes from English. Diminutive of Robert, from Germanic Hrodebert: hrod 'fame' + berht 'bright'. Often used as a familiar short form rather than an official given name.
Is Bob a boy or girl name?
Bob is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Bob?
7 US babies were named Bob in 2024. Its peak year was 1934.
How do you pronounce Bob?
Bob is usually pronounced BAHB.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.