How Many People Are Named Bob?

Complete statistics for the name Bob: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Bob
Very Rare
Old English

Bob's origins trace back to Old English, making it a classic choice. That's why 1 in 8,861 Americans today have this name, totaling 37,241 people. The majority, 94%, are over 60, showing its strong association with older generations.

~2,522
Living in US
1 in 131,423
Americans
1959
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Bright fame
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 1
Personality Traits
Friendly Dependable
1
Life Path Number

Life-path number 1 symbolizes leadership and independence.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

71,399
Worldwide Bearers
#1,208
Global Rank
🇰🇪 Kenya
5,390
🇬🇭 Ghana
5,225
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
4,528
🇵🇭 Philippines
3,504
🇮🇩 Indonesia
3,428
🇪🇬 Egypt
3,058
🇵🇱 Poland
2,874
🇧🇪 Belgium
2,849
🇳🇬 Nigeria
2,785
🇨🇳 China
2,545

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
37,125 (100%)
♀ Female
116 (0%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 83
420
Would be under 30 (0%)
5,173
Would be 30–60 (6%)
87,661
Would be over 60 (94%)

All 93,254 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1959

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
74
Modern Appeal
26
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Bob Through the Generations

Bob peaked in popularity in 1959 when 2,834 babies were given this name. Over time, its usage has declined, but it remains a beloved moniker. Today, 420 Bobs are under 30, while 5,173 are between 30 and 60, and 87,661 are over 60, reflecting its enduring appeal among older Americans.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 12,158
Illinois 6,191
Ohio 5,419
Texas 4,798
Missouri 4,584
Michigan 4,212
Oklahoma 4,127
Washington 3,478
Indiana 3,336
Iowa 2,893

⭐ Famous People Named Bob

Bob is a male given name or a hypocorism, usually of Robert.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Bob

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Bob's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Bob

How Many People Have the Name Bob?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 2,522 people in the United States currently share the name Bob. That works out to roughly 1 in every 131,423 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Bob a Common or Rare Name?

Bob is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Bob Mean?

Bob means "bright fame" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 1.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Bob in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.

When Was Bob Most Popular?

The name Bob reached peak popularity in 1959, with 2,834 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Bob?

Approximately 2,522 people named Bob live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 2,522. That works out to roughly 1 in 131,423 Americans.

Is Bob a rare name?

Bob is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 131,423 Americans has this name.

What does the name Bob mean?

Bob means "bright fame" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Bob more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Bob are male and 0% are female.

When was Bob most popular?

Bob peaked in 1959 with 2,834 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US2,522
All-Time Births2,522
1 in X1 in 131,423
RarityVery Rare
GenderMale
Avg Age83
Peak Year1959
World Rank#1,208
Male %100%
Female %0%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.