Kirby
Boy name · #3240 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kirby? In official American birth records, Kirby has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
Kirby ranks #3240 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 36 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2355, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 50,000 boys born in 2025 was named Kirby.
The 144-year story
Kirby first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 357 boys were named Kirby — good for #411 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Kirby per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kirby against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kirby in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kirby is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kirby will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kirby is most common
State-level data for Kirby is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Kirby
Statistically, parents drawn to Kirby tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kerry, Davey, Ivory, Rickey, and Stoney.
KerryDaveyIvoryRickeyStoneyRonnyKennyLoren
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kirby | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | #3240 |
| 2024 | 52 | #2559 |
| 2023 | 47 | #2737 |
| 2022 | 44 | #2873 |
| 2021 | 39 | #3074 |
| 2020 | 52 | #2467 |
| 2019 | 43 | #2851 |
| 2018 | 51 | #2507 |
| 2017 | 45 | #2715 |
| 2016 | 44 | #2726 |
| 2015 | 55 | #2355 |
| 2014 | 40 | #2885 |
| 2013 | 44 | #2668 |
| 2012 | 48 | #2551 |
| 2011 | 51 | #2437 |
| 2010 | 50 | #2467 |
| 2009 | 47 | #2623 |
| 2008 | 49 | #2542 |
| 2007 | 64 | #2117 |
| 2006 | 53 | #2348 |
| 2005 | 50 | #2325 |
| 2004 | 60 | #1989 |
| 2003 | 54 | #2077 |
| 2002 | 64 | #1792 |
| 2001 | 82 | #1481 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kirby?
In official American birth records, the name Kirby first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Kirby a popular boy name?
Kirby ranked #3240 among boys in 2025 with 36 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2355.
When was the name Kirby most popular?
Kirby peaked in 1957, when 357 American boys received the name (ranked #411 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kirby?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 50,000 newborn American boys was named Kirby. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.