NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Joby

A diminutive form of the name Job, derived from the Hebrew name Iyyov.

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.

Joby is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Joby popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 15 births.

This profile covers 254 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 252 living people in the UK are called Joby. 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

  • Joby ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2005, when 15 boys were registered as Joby.
  • About 252 living people in the UK are estimated to have Joby as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2005

15 births

Estimated living

252

2026

Meaning

What does Joby mean?

The given name Joby is believed to have its origins in the Hebrew language, derived from the biblical name Job. The name Job is thought to come from the Hebrew word "iyyov," which means "persecuted" or "afflicted one."

The Book of Job, one of the oldest texts in the Hebrew Bible, centers around the story of a man named Job who endures immense suffering and hardship, yet remains steadfast in his faith. This biblical figure's name likely contributed to the development of the variant spelling "Joby."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Joby can be found in the 16th century. In 1592, a man named Joby Talmash was recorded as a resident of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of the renowned English playwright William Shakespeare.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Joby. In the 18th century, Joby Parsons (1708-1770) was a prominent English clockmaker and inventor known for his contributions to the development of marine chronometers.

In the world of literature, Joby Bennet (1876-1942) was an American writer and journalist who authored several novels and short stories during the early 20th century.

Moving into the 20th century, Joby Talbot (born 1971) is a contemporary British composer who has written works for various ensembles, including the Royal Opera House and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Another notable figure is Joby Burgess (born 1980), a British powerlifter and strongman competitor who has won numerous national and international competitions in his field.

While the name Joby may not be as common as some other given names, it has a rich history spanning centuries, with its roots in the ancient Hebrew culture and biblical texts, as well as a diverse range of individuals who have carried this name throughout various eras and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Joby over time

The chart below shows babies named Joby registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Joby, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Joby
0481115199620102024

Decades

Joby by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Joby 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 #3302 23 4
2010s #2429 94 10
2000s #1727 101 10
1990s #1521 36 4

Related

Names similar to Joby

FAQ

Joby: questions and answers

How popular is the name Joby in the UK right now?

In 2024, Joby was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Joby most popular?

The peak year on record was 2005, with 15 babies registered as Joby in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Joby?

A diminutive form of the name Job, derived from the Hebrew name Iyyov.

How many people are called Joby in the UK?

A total of 254 babies have been registered as Joby across the 28 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.