UK boy's name
Corby
A diminutive form of the surname Corbet meaning "little raven".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Corby is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Corby popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 10 births.
This profile covers 111 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 110 living people in the UK are called Corby. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Corby ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 10 boys were registered as Corby.
- • About 110 living people in the UK are estimated to have Corby as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
10 births
Estimated living
110
2026
Meaning
What does Corby mean?
The name Corby is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "cor" meaning "bend" or "winding" and "by" meaning "town" or "village." It likely originated as a place name referring to a settlement located near a bend in a river or stream.
The earliest recorded use of the name Corby dates back to the 11th century, when it appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry refers to the village of "Corbei" in Northamptonshire, England.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Corby was primarily used as a surname or a place name, rather than a given name. It wasn't until the 16th century that it began to gain popularity as a first name, particularly among English families with ties to the village of Corby or the surrounding areas.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the first name Corby was Corby Jenyns, a British author and scholar who lived from 1665 to 1741. He is best known for his work on the history of Cambridgeshire and his contributions to the field of natural history.
In the 18th century, Corby Browne (1712-1788) was a prominent British politician who served as a member of parliament for several constituencies, including Arundel and Wendover.
During the 19th century, Corby Nicholson (1854-1927) was a notable English architect who designed several notable buildings in the Arts and Crafts style, including the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
In the 20th century, Corby Borromeo (1920-1998) was an Italian-American artist and sculptor who gained recognition for his abstract and modernist works. His sculptures can be found in various public spaces and museums across the United States.
Another notable figure with the name Corby was Corby Anderson (1938-2019), an American actor and voice artist who appeared in numerous films, television shows, and video games. He was particularly well-known for his voice work in animated series such as "The Transformers" and "G.I. Joe."
While the name Corby has its roots in England, it has been used across various cultures and regions over the centuries, albeit with relatively low frequency compared to more common names. Its unique origins and historical significance make it a distinctive and intriguing choice for a given name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Corby over time
The chart below shows babies named Corby registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Corby, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Corby by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Corby 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 | #4864 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3173 | 55 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2794 | 42 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2499 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Corby
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Corby: questions and answers
How popular is the name Corby in the UK right now?
In 2024, Corby was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Corby most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 10 babies registered as Corby in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Corby?
A diminutive form of the surname Corbet meaning "little raven".
How many people are called Corby in the UK?
A total of 111 babies have been registered as Corby across the 21 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.