Tobias
Boy name · #283 in 2025 · Uniqueness 52/100
In 2025, 1,201 baby boys were named Tobias, placing it at #283 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #316, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,499 boys born in 2025 was named Tobias.
Babies named Tobias per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Tobias first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 1,523 boys were named Tobias — good for #246 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Tobias against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Tobias in class?
Tobias scores 52 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Tobias is most common
Geography matters for names, and Tobias is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Tobiass were TX (104), CA (83), FL (66), OH (64), NC (52). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Tobias
Statistically, parents drawn to Tobias tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mathias, Isaias, Matthias, Matias, and Titus.
MathiasIsaiasMatthiasMatiasTitusLukasJosiasJeremias
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Tobias | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,201 | #283 |
| 2024 | 1,220 | #280 |
| 2023 | 1,222 | #279 |
| 2022 | 1,262 | #275 |
| 2021 | 1,243 | #276 |
| 2020 | 1,295 | #263 |
| 2019 | 1,319 | #272 |
| 2018 | 1,295 | #273 |
| 2017 | 1,344 | #269 |
| 2016 | 1,523 | #246 |
| 2015 | 1,123 | #316 |
| 2014 | 743 | #418 |
| 2013 | 568 | #486 |
| 2012 | 520 | #509 |
| 2011 | 480 | #528 |
| 2010 | 495 | #522 |
| 2009 | 536 | #503 |
| 2008 | 507 | #529 |
| 2007 | 572 | #472 |
| 2006 | 552 | #480 |
| 2005 | 523 | #480 |
| 2004 | 493 | #495 |
| 2003 | 495 | #497 |
| 2002 | 427 | #527 |
| 2001 | 365 | #569 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Tobias a popular boy name?
Tobias ranked #283 among boys in 2025 with 1,201 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #316.
When was the name Tobias most popular?
Tobias peaked in 2016, when 1,523 American boys received the name (ranked #246 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Tobias?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,499 newborn American boys was named Tobias. It scores 52/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.