UK boy's name
Tobe
A Japanese masculine name meaning "eternal life".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Tobe is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Tobe popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4052, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2006 to 2006. 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.
Tobe is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Tobe. 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 2007 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Tobe ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales in 2006, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 3 boys were registered as Tobe.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tobe as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4052
2006
Births in 2006
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Tobe mean?
The name Tobe has its origins in various cultures and languages around the world, each with its unique historical significance and meaning.
In Japanese, the name Tobe is derived from the word "toberu," which means "to fly" or "to soar." It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the Heian period (794-1185 AD) and was later adopted as a given name, symbolizing freedom, aspiration, and a soaring spirit.
In some African cultures, particularly in Nigeria, the name Tobe is a variation of the Yoruba name "Tobi," which means "to worship" or "to revere." It is a name often given to children born during religious festivals or ceremonies, signifying a deep connection to spirituality and tradition.
The name Tobe can also be traced back to ancient Hebrew roots, where it is a variation of the name "Tobiah," which means "Yahweh is good." This name appears in the biblical book of Ezra and is associated with a person who helped rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tobe can be found in the historical records of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan, where a samurai warrior named Tobe Masataka (1493-1573) played a significant role in the unification of Japan during the Sengoku period.
Another notable figure bearing the name Tobe was Tobe Hooper (1943-2017), an American filmmaker and screenwriter best known for his horror classic "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974), which became a cult favorite and influenced the horror genre for decades.
In the realm of literature, Tobe Hooker (1904-1986) was an American novelist and short story writer, renowned for his works set in the American South, including the novel "The Rope Dancers" (1964), which explored themes of race and class in the rural South.
Tobe Baer (1934-2004) was a Canadian artist and sculptor, known for his large-scale public installations and his contributions to the development of minimalist and conceptual art movements in Canada.
Tobe Nwigwe (born 1991) is a contemporary Nigerian-American rapper, singer, and songwriter, who has gained recognition for his unique blend of hip-hop, spoken word, and activism, addressing social issues and celebrating African culture through his music.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Tobe by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tobe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4052 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Tobe
- Thomas 160,894
- Tyler 42,147
- Theo 40,594
- Toby 32,482
- Theodore 30,211
- Tommy 25,300
- Teddy 20,781
- Taylor 14,354
- Tobias 13,102
- Tom 9,822
- Tristan 9,171
- Timothy 6,200
FAQ
Tobe: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tobe in the UK right now?
In 2006, Tobe was ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Tobe most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 3 babies registered as Tobe in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tobe?
A Japanese masculine name meaning "eternal life".
How many people are called Tobe in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Tobe 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.