Libby
Girl name · #1144 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Libby? In official American birth records, Libby has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
Libby is currently the #1144 girl name in the United States — 202 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #997, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,911 girls born in 2025 was named Libby.
The 144-year story
Libby first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 355 girls were named Libby — good for #797 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 Libby per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Libby against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Libby in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Libby is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Libby will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Libby is most common
Geography matters for names, and Libby is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Libby is most common in NY (0.7 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Libby is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Libby
Libby belongs to the Elizabeth family — closely related nicknames and spellings of the same name.
ElizabethLizLizzieBethElizaBettyBetsyLibby
Counted as one name, the Elizabeth family went to about 9,917 girls in 2025 — together they'd rank around #8, versus #1144 for Libby alone.
Names like Libby
Statistically, parents drawn to Libby tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Abby, Nelly, Liberty, Laney, and Arely.
AbbyNellyLibertyLaneyArelyLexieLidiaAnsley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Libby | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 202 | #1144 |
| 2024 | 216 | #1120 |
| 2023 | 225 | #1094 |
| 2022 | 253 | #1022 |
| 2021 | 206 | #1181 |
| 2020 | 205 | #1152 |
| 2019 | 258 | #1000 |
| 2018 | 232 | #1085 |
| 2017 | 239 | #1069 |
| 2016 | 252 | #1046 |
| 2015 | 270 | #997 |
| 2014 | 306 | #887 |
| 2013 | 290 | #888 |
| 2012 | 282 | #916 |
| 2011 | 279 | #927 |
| 2010 | 346 | #793 |
| 2009 | 355 | #797 |
| 2008 | 316 | #882 |
| 2007 | 323 | #866 |
| 2006 | 347 | #789 |
| 2005 | 333 | #780 |
| 2004 | 301 | #824 |
| 2003 | 256 | #922 |
| 2002 | 226 | #977 |
| 2001 | 212 | #1011 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Libby?
In official American birth records, the name Libby first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Libby a popular girl name?
Libby ranked #1144 among girls in 2025 with 202 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #997.
When was the name Libby most popular?
Libby peaked in 2009, when 355 American girls received the name (ranked #797 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Libby?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,911 newborn American girls was named Libby. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.