Kirby
Kirby is a given name which may refer to:
- English
Meaning & Origin of Kirby
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Kirby is a given name which may refer to:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Kirby
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Kirby as a girl name dates back to 1917, when 8 babies received it. 1984 was its biggest year on record, with 367 newborns named Kirby — #526 in the national rankings. About 36% of every Kirby on record arrived during the 1980s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Kirby ranks #2,459 for girls with 73 births, rising sharply (+55% over the past five years). All told, over 4K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Kirby on the record books as a boy name in 1881, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1957, when 358 Kirbys were born — ranking #409 that year. About 21% of every Kirby on record arrived during the 1950s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Kirby ranks #2,637 for boys with 50 births, gradually rising (+6%). All told, over 15K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Kirby
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Kirby Allan (1928–2011), American record producer
- Kirby Ian Andersen , Canadian musician
- Kirby Logan Archer (born 1971), American convicted criminal
- Kirby Ann Basken (born 1985), Norwegian model
- Kirby Bentley (born 1986), Australian rules footballer
- Kirby Bliss Blanton (born 1990), American actress
- Kirby Chambliss (born 1959), American pilot
- Kirby Dach (born 2001), Canadian ice hockey player
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Kirby
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kirby is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kirby
What does the name Kirby mean?
What is the origin of the name Kirby?
How popular is Kirby in 2026?
When was Kirby most popular?
In which U.S. states is Kirby most popular?
Is Kirby a unisex name?
What names go well with Kirby?
About the name Kirby
Kirby is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1881 and has accumulated 15K births in the dataset. Kirby's peak popularity came in 1957 when it ranked #396. Use the chart and map above to compare Kirby's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1957 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.