UK boy's name
Bob
Diminutive of the name Robert, of German origin meaning "bright fame".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bob is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bob popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4107, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 9 births.
This profile covers 143 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 142 living people in the UK are called Bob. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bob ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 9 boys were registered as Bob.
- • About 142 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bob as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4107
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2008
9 births
Estimated living
142
2026
Meaning
What does Bob mean?
The name Bob is a diminutive form of the name Robert, which has its origins in the Germanic languages. The name Robert is derived from the old Germanic roots "hrod" and "berht," which together mean "bright fame" or "bright renown." The name was brought to England by the Normans after their conquest in 1066 and quickly became a popular name among the nobility and royalty.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bob can be found in the 14th century writings of Geoffrey Chaucer, where the character Bob is referred to in his famous work, "The Canterbury Tales." This suggests that the diminutive form of Robert was already in use by that time.
In the 16th century, the name Bob became more widely used among the common people, particularly in England and Scotland. It was seen as a friendly and informal way to address someone named Robert, and it was often used as a nickname or a pet name.
Throughout history, there have been several notable people who bore the name Bob. One of the most famous is Robert the Bruce, also known as Bob, who was the King of Scots from 1306 to 1329 and played a crucial role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against England.
Another well-known figure is Bob Marley, the legendary Jamaican singer and songwriter who popularized reggae music worldwide. He was born Robert Nesta Marley in 1945 and passed away in 1981, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the music industry.
In the world of literature, Bob Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman in 1941, is a renowned American singer-songwriter, artist, and author. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century and has won numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Bob Geldof, born Robert Frederick Xenon Geldof in 1951, is an Irish singer, songwriter, and political activist. He is best known for co-writing the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and organizing the Live Aid concert in 1985 to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia.
Finally, Bob Hope, born Leslie Townes Hope in 1903, was an American comedian, actor, and author. He is considered one of the most famous entertainers of the 20th century and was known for his numerous performances for American troops during World War II and subsequent conflicts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bob over time
The chart below shows babies named Bob registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bob, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bob by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bob was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3395 | 11 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3527 | 49 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2295 | 58 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1904 | 25 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Bob
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Bob: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bob in the UK right now?
In 2023, Bob was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Bob most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 9 babies registered as Bob in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bob?
Diminutive of the name Robert, of German origin meaning "bright fame".
How many people are called Bob in the UK?
A total of 143 babies have been registered as Bob across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.