Kolbe
Boy name · #1939 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kolbe? In official American birth records, Kolbe has been tracked continuously since 1989, giving it 36 years of documented American history.
Kolbe is currently the #1939 boy name in the United States — 80 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2055, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 22,500 boys born in 2025 was named Kolbe.
The 36-year story
Kolbe first appears in the Social Security records in 1989, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2001, when 102 boys were named Kolbe — good for #1287 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Kolbe per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kolbe against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kolbe in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kolbe is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kolbe will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kolbe is most common
State-level data for Kolbe 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 Kolbe
Statistically, parents drawn to Kolbe tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kobi, Kobe, Kayne, Kole, and Haris.
KobiKobeKayneKoleHarisKeoniKaineKeyon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kolbe | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 80 | #1932 |
| 2024 | 82 | #1921 |
| 2023 | 85 | #1868 |
| 2022 | 67 | #2168 |
| 2021 | 63 | #2225 |
| 2020 | 59 | #2292 |
| 2019 | 65 | #2170 |
| 2018 | 52 | #2472 |
| 2017 | 46 | #2672 |
| 2016 | 52 | #2437 |
| 2015 | 69 | #2055 |
| 2014 | 61 | #2205 |
| 2013 | 49 | #2492 |
| 2012 | 50 | #2488 |
| 2011 | 43 | #2748 |
| 2010 | 59 | #2212 |
| 2009 | 56 | #2320 |
| 2008 | 45 | #2717 |
| 2007 | 57 | #2281 |
| 2006 | 38 | #2932 |
| 2005 | 35 | #2960 |
| 2004 | 52 | #2208 |
| 2003 | 78 | #1611 |
| 2002 | 80 | #1543 |
| 2001 | 102 | #1287 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kolbe?
In official American birth records, the name Kolbe first appeared in 1989 (over 36 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 36 years.
Is Kolbe a popular boy name?
Kolbe ranked #1939 among boys in 2025 with 80 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2055.
When was the name Kolbe most popular?
Kolbe peaked in 2001, when 102 American boys received the name (ranked #1287 that year). Since 2001 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kolbe?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 22,500 newborn American boys was named Kolbe. 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.