UK girl's name
Kerby
Of English origin, a variant spelling of the name Kirby meaning "church settlement".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kerby is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kerby popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3795, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. 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.
Kerby is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Kerby. 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 1997 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kerby ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Kerby.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kerby as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3795
1996
Births in 1996
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Kerby mean?
The given name Kerby originates from the Old English language, derived from the words "cyr" meaning "church" and "by" meaning "town" or "village." It was primarily used in the Anglo-Saxon regions of England during the medieval period, around the 5th to 11th centuries.
The name Kerby was originally a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near or came from a village or town with a church. It was common practice during the Middle Ages to adopt locational surnames based on landmarks or geographical features. As a given name, Kerby likely emerged as a result of this naming tradition.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kerby can be traced back to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Chirebi" and "Kyrkeby," reflecting the phonetic variations common in that era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kerby. One example is Kerby Nahill (1570-1641), an English merchant and explorer who established trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. Another is Kerby Milburn (1688-1753), a British politician and member of the Parliament of Great Britain.
In the realm of literature, Kerby Chadwick (1825-1892) was a renowned English poet and author, known for his vivid depictions of rural life and nature. Chadwick's works, such as "The Pastoral Idylls," were widely acclaimed during the Victorian era.
Moving into the 20th century, Kerby Jennings (1909-1979) was an American jazz saxophonist and bandleader who played a significant role in the development of the swing music genre. He collaborated with notable musicians like Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman.
Lastly, Kerby Rosanes (1942-2018) was a Filipino painter and sculptor recognized for his contributions to the country's modern art scene. His works often explored themes of social commentary and cultural identity.
While the name Kerby has its origins in Old English, it has been adopted and used across various cultures and regions over the centuries, making it a name with a rich and diverse history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Kerby by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kerby 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Kerby
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kerby: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kerby in the UK right now?
In 1996, Kerby was ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kerby most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Kerby in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kerby?
Of English origin, a variant spelling of the name Kirby meaning "church settlement".
How many people are called Kerby in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Kerby across the 1 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.