UK boy's name
Hobie
A diminutive form of the name Hubert, of Germanic origin, meaning "bright heart" or "bright mind".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Hobie is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Hobie popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4678, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 4 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2001 to 2010. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Hobie. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hobie ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 4 boys were registered as Hobie.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hobie as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4678
2010
Births in 2010
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
4 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Hobie mean?
The name Hobie originates from the English nickname for the name Robert, which itself derives from the Germanic elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "beraht" meaning "bright". The earliest recorded use of Hobie as a given name can be traced back to the 16th century in England.
Hobie was a relatively uncommon name throughout history, but there are a few notable individuals who bore this moniker. One of the earliest recorded instances was Hobie Hickam, an English politician and member of Parliament who lived from 1588 to 1639. He represented the constituency of Nottinghamshire and played a role in the events leading up to the English Civil War.
Another historical figure with the name Hobie was Hobie Billings, an American sailor and ship captain who lived from 1765 to 1848. He was renowned for his daring exploits during the War of 1812, where he successfully evaded British warships while transporting vital supplies to American forces.
In the field of literature, Hobie Granger was an American novelist and short story writer who lived from 1892 to 1976. He is best known for his works depicting life in rural New England, and his novels often explored themes of tradition, family, and the changing landscape of small-town America.
Hobie Cammack was a British explorer and adventurer who lived from 1910 to 1998. He led several expeditions to remote regions of the world, including the Amazon rainforest and the Himalayas. His writings and lectures inspired generations of travelers and nature enthusiasts.
Finally, Hobie Alter, an American businessman and pioneer in the surfing industry, lived from 1933 to 2014. He is credited with popularizing the modern surfboard design and founded the iconic Hobie Cat company, which produced a range of innovative sailboats and catamarans.
While not an exhaustive list, these individuals demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who have carried the name Hobie throughout history, spanning fields such as politics, maritime exploration, literature, adventure, and entrepreneurship.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hobie over time
The chart below shows babies named Hobie registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hobie, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hobie by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hobie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4678 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3117 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Hobie
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Hobie: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hobie in the UK right now?
In 2010, Hobie was ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Hobie most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 4 babies registered as Hobie in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hobie?
A diminutive form of the name Hubert, of Germanic origin, meaning "bright heart" or "bright mind".
How many people are called Hobie in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Hobie across the 4 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.